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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 II Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Successor is Olympus E-M5 II
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Replaced the Sony RX100
  • Newer Model is Sony RX100 III
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 II Overview

The following is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 II, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the RX100 II (20MP) is pretty well matched but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and RX100 II (1") use different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 was launched 14 months prior to the RX100 II which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-M5 scores against the RX100 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony RX100 II

 E-M5 RX100 II 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Olympus E-M5

 RX100 II E-M5 
AnnouncedJune 2013April 2012Newer by 14 months
Screen resolution1229k610kCrisper screen (+619k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony RX100 II

 E-M5 RX100 II 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 features exterior measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 II has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 II in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 vs the RX100 II.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and RX100 II is 81 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions just by checking specifications. The image below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and RX100 II.

Plainly, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony RX100 II will resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography details
Sony RX100 II Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW formats
70
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5
Street photography with Sony RX100 II
82
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features focus via touch
environment proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than average (281 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography info
Sony RX100 II Sports photography info
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
does not have phase detect auto focus
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
includes tracking focus
great battery pack (350 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Travel photography camera
66
environment proof
features focus via touch
good MP (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly display
80
great battery pack (350 per charge)
lighter than average (281 grams)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Landscape photography camera
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
lack of Time Lapse mode
74
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
great battery pack (350 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging highlights
Sony RX100 II Vlogging highlights
34
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of external mic socket
37
decently wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (281g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing mic support
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony RX100 II
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Type Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-04-30 2013-06-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 160
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 100 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 610 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 grams (0.94 pounds) 281 grams (0.62 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 67
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 12.4
DXO Low light score 826 483
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 350 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $799 $598