Clicky

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 III Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 II
Sony RX100 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched May 2014
  • Older Model is Sony RX100 II
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 IV
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-M5 versus Sony RX100 III, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the RX100 III (20MP) is fairly close but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and RX100 III (1") use different sensor sizing.

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

The E-M5 was unveiled 24 months earlier than the RX100 III making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-M5 grades vs the RX100 III in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

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

 E-M5 RX100 III 
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 RX100 III E-M5 
LaunchedMay 2014April 2012Fresher by 24 months
Display resolution1229k610kSharper display (+619k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

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

 E-M5 RX100 III 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 enjoys physical measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 III has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") and a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M5 versus Sony RX100 III in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-M5 against the RX100 III.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and RX100 III is 81 and 89 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing just by researching technical specs. The visual below should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and RX100 III.

As you have seen, the two cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony RX100 III will render extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older E-M5 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX100 III Portrait photography highlights
71
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
65
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography info
Sony RX100 III Street photography info
82
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with touch focus
environment proof
above average high ISO (25,600)
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than others (290 grams)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
Sports photography with Sony RX100 III
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
lacks phase detect autofocus
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
features tracking focus
no phase detect AF
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Sony RX100 III
66
environment proof
comes with touch focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly screen
86
lighter than others (290 grams)
MP count decent (20MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Sony RX100 III
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proof
doesn't have Timelapse recording
74
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 III as a Vlogging camera
34
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone socket
81
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (290 grams)
no microphone socket
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony RX100 III
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Class Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-04-30 2014-05-15
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 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
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 610k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 gr (0.94 lbs) 290 gr (0.64 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 67
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 22.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 12.3
DXO Low light score 826 495
Other
Battery life 360 shots 320 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $799 $748