Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 IV: A Detailed Comparative Review for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing the right camera often means balancing multiple factors: sensor size, portability, lens options, handling, and specialized features tailored to your photography style. Today, I’ll walk you through a comprehensive side-by-side examination of two intriguing but fundamentally different cameras - the Olympus OM-D E-M5 (announced in 2012) and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV (released in 2015).

While the Olympus E-M5 is a Micro Four Thirds mirrorless system camera geared toward advanced users, the Sony RX100 IV represents a flagship premium compact camera with a fixed zoom lens and large 1-inch sensor. Both come with their own distinct advantages and trade-offs, so understanding their real-world performance will be key to making an informed choice.

Quick Look: The Different Camera Philosophies

Before diving into the granular details, it’s worth positioning these two contenders on the spectrum of photography tools.

• The Olympus E-M5 is a small but highly customizable interchangeable lens camera built around the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system. It provides versatility through a large lens ecosystem (over 100 lenses available) and extensive manual controls. It’s designed for enthusiasts who want compact portability with serious creative control.

• The Sony RX100 IV is a pocketable high-end compact with a fast 24-70mm zoom lens built on a 1-inch sensor. It emphasizes convenience and image quality in a small form factor with advanced video capabilities. Uniquely appealing to travelers and street shooters who want quality but without the bulk of interchangeable lenses.

Understanding their fundamental design choices will shape our detailed exploration across multiple photography genres and technical benchmarks.

Handling and Ergonomics: Mirrorless vs. Advanced Compact

Handling and ergonomics set the foundation for a photographer’s experience, especially if you intend to shoot for extended periods or in dynamic scenarios.

Olympus E-M5: SLR-Style Grip and Controls

The E-M5 features a classic SLR-style mirrorless body with a prominent handgrip, offering a firm and comfortable hold even with heavier lenses. Its build is notably robust - magnesium alloy chassis with some environmental sealing that shields against light rain and dust. Inputs and dials are well spaced, and it includes multiple customizable buttons giving users quick access to core settings.

With dimensions of 122x89x43 mm and weighing 425 grams (body only), the E-M5 presents a substantial yet manageable presence, striking a nice balance between portability and control.

Sony RX100 IV: Pocket-Sized Versatility

The RX100 IV’s big selling point is its portability - only 102x58x41 mm and 298 grams. It’s genuinely pocketable, fitting into a jacket pocket or small bag, and perfect for grabbing shots on the go. However, this small size means the grip is minimal, and the limited control surface favors simplicity over customization.

Its control layout leverages a tilting 3” screen and an electronic viewfinder cleverly hidden behind a pop-up mechanism, maximizing compactness without sacrificing framing precision.

Control Layout Comparison

Looking at the control layouts side-by-side, the Olympus offers a more tactile, traditional camera experience, while Sony focuses on streamlined access - which may appeal more to users who prefer shooting with minimal fuss.

Practical takeaway: For those who favor manual control and generally handle larger lenses, the E-M5’s ergonomics will feel more natural; for spontaneous shooting or travel, the RX100 IV’s pocketability is hard to beat.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Size Matters, But Not Always

Sensor size, type, and imaging processor form the crux of any camera’s image quality potential. Let’s break down how the E-M5’s Four Thirds sensor stacks up against the RX100 IV’s 1-inch sensor.

Sensor Specifications

Image Quality Analysis

While the Four Thirds sensor on the Olympus has a larger imaging area, boasting over 220 mm², the Sony’s 1-inch sensor is smaller but benefits from modern backside illumination (BSI) technology, enhancing light sensitivity.

The DXOMark scores place the E-M5 slightly ahead in overall image quality (71 vs 70), with:

• Color depth: Comparable (Olympus 22.8 bits, Sony 22.9 bits)
• Dynamic range: Slight edge to Sony (12.6 EV vs 12.3 EV)
• Low-light ISO performance: Olympus outperforms Sony here (ISO 826 vs 562 on DXO Low-Light score), reflecting its higher native ISO ceiling and more mature sensor/processor combination.

Real-world photos reveal the Olympus’s sensor produces detailed, nuanced images with superior highlight handling, important in landscape and portrait work. The Sony RX100 IV shines in crispness, especially wide open, benefiting from its fast F1.8-2.8 lens across the zoom range, but noise becomes noticeable at very high ISO settings.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: Framing Your Shots

The way you compose your images is determined heavily by the viewfinder and display technologies.

Olympus E-M5 Display and EVF

• 3” tilting OLED touchscreen with 610k dots for reasonable clarity.
• Electronic viewfinder resolution: 1440k dots, covering 100% frame.
• Magnification 0.58x lending to comfortable eye relief.
• Touchscreen aids in autofocus point selection and navigating menus precisely.

Sony RX100 IV Display and EVF

• 3” tilting screen with much higher resolution: 1229k dots, nearly twice as many pixels as the Olympus.
• Pop-up electronic viewfinder boasting a sharp 2359k dots, 100% coverage, and slightly larger 0.59x magnification.
• No touchscreen, which is a downside for many users accustomed to tapping to focus.

This section is a tight race. The Sony’s display and EVF clarity offer a distinct advantage for critical manual focusing and wildlife shots. Conversely, the Olympus’s touch controls provide more fluidity when adjusting focus area in the field.

Autofocus and Burst Performance: Capturing the Moment

Let's talk about AF systems and continuous shooting - vital for sports, wildlife, and action photography.

Olympus E-M5 AF System

• Contrast detection autofocus with 35 points.
• Features eye detection and face detection in live view.
• Continuous shooting speed of up to 9 fps.
• Includes 5-axis in-body stabilization which helps tracking and sharp shots at longer focal lengths.

Sony RX100 IV AF System

• 25 contrast detection AF points; no phase detection.
• Face detection included but no eye detection or animal eye AF.
• Fast burst mode up to 16 fps with continuous AF.
• Optical image stabilization built into the lens.

In practice, the RX100 IV’s peak burst speed of 16 fps outpaces the E-M5’s 9 fps, which benefits action and sports shooters who rely on capturing split-second moments. However, the Olympus’s more extensive autofocus point coverage and stabilizer provide steadier framing and confidence when using larger lenses.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility: The Power of Interchangeability

The Olympus E-M5’s Micro Four Thirds mount opens a door to a massive range of lenses - from ultra-wide primes to super-telephoto zooms - with excellent third-party options. This is a critical advantage if you desire creative flexibility or want to specialize in multiple photographic disciplines (macro, portrait, wildlife, etc.).

By comparison, the Sony RX100 IV has a fixed 24-70mm equivalent zoom. The lens is fast (F1.8-2.8) and sharp, covering versatile shooting needs from wide landscapes to moderate telephoto portraits, but it will never match the optical quality or depth-of-field control of dedicated lenses.

If you value the convenience of “one camera, one lens," the Sony's package is hard to beat. For deeper exploration and specialized work, Olympus wins hands down.

Build Quality and Environmental Durability: Will the Camera Follow You Anywhere?

The Olympus E-M5 is weather-sealed, designed to resist splashes and dust - valuable for outdoor landscapes or light rain wildlife shoots.

The Sony RX100 IV, while solidly made, lacks environmental sealing and is more vulnerable to harsh conditions or moisture ingress.

For professional and adventurous photographers who often shoot outdoors, Olympus’s ruggedness is a practical advantage.

Portability and Battery Life: Staying Power on the Move

Battery Life

• Olympus E-M5 offers approximately 360 shots per charge, which is decent for mirrorless cameras of its generation.
• Sony RX100 IV provides about 280 shots per charge, reflective of its compact form.

Both cameras allow recharging via USB, but the RX100 IV offers slightly reduced longevity in the field.

Weight and Size Impact

Lightweight systems like the RX100 IV’s 298 grams vs. the E-M5’s 425 grams matter significantly to street shooters and travelers. The RX100 IV’s pocketability is a daily-carry dream, while the Olympus is better suited when you can carry at least a small bag.

Specialized Performance Across Photography Genres

Moving beyond raw specs, let’s see these cameras through the lenses of specific photographic disciplines.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus E-M5 delivers natural skin tones with its TruePic VI processor. Combined with the extensive MFT lens lineup, including legendary fast primes, it’s easier to achieve smooth bokeh and shallow depth-of-field portraits. The 5-axis stabilization helps keep portraits sharp in dimmer light. Eye-detection AF is helpful but not as advanced as modern systems.
• Sony RX100 IV benefits from the fast zoom lens and excellent detail resolution but struggles to produce creamy bokeh due to smaller sensor size. Its eye AF is absent, which can make fast portrait sessions less forgiving.

Verdict: Olympus edges ahead for professional and creative portrait work.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution count here.

• Both cameras offer 16-20 MP sensors capable of detailed landscapes.
• Olympus’s larger sensor area aids in highlight retention and shadow detail.
• Weather sealing on the E-M5 is a bonus on exposed shoots.
• The Sony RX100 IV’s sharp lens is great in good light but less versatile with no ultra-wide option.

Verdict: Olympus is the more flexible, durable choice for landscape enthusiasts.

Wildlife Photography

Parameters like autofocus speed, burst rate, and telephoto reach dominate.

• Olympus can attach long telephoto lenses, stabilized and tracked by its AF system.
• RX100 IV’s burst speed is excellent, but fixed 70mm max focal length restricts framing distant subjects.

Verdict: Olympus wins for serious wildlife work; Sony is limited to roadside animals or well-approached subjects.

Sports Photography

Fast continuous shooting, AF tracking, and low light are critical.

• Sony’s 16 fps burst tops Olympus’s 9 fps, giving it an edge in action freezes.
• Both struggle at very high ISO, but Olympus has better noise handling.
• Olympus’s weather sealing further suits outdoor sports.

Verdict: Sony is better for fast, close-in sports sequences; Olympus better for versatile conditions.

Street Photography

• RX100 IV’s size and stealth make it ideal for candid street shooting.
• Olympus is bulkier and less discrete.
• Low-light capabilities favor Olympus but RX100 IV’s fast lens compensates well.

Verdict: Sony favored for street shooters seeking discretion.

Macro Photography

Precision focusing and lens options matter.

• Olympus can mount dedicated macro lenses and use focus peaking with the EVF.
• RX100 IV has a 5cm closest focus distance, acceptable but limited.

Verdict: Olympus for serious macro; Sony for casual up-close shots.

Night and Astrophotography

High ISO performance and manual settings are paramount.

• Olympus’s higher native ISO and 5-axis stabilization enable longer handheld exposures.
• Sony’s low-light score is weaker; severely noisy at above ISO 1600.
• Neither has long exposure bulb modes but Olympus’s shutter go down to 60s.

Verdict: Olympus more suited for night landscapes and astro with tripod.

Video Capabilities

• Sony RX100 IV delivers 4K UHD video (3840x2160) at 30p, plus high frame slow motion (up to 120fps in 720p).
• Olympus maxes out at 1080p Full HD 60fps.
• Neither supports external microphones; Sony has built-in flash versus none on Olympus.
• RX100 IV optical image stabilization beats Olympus’s sensor-based stabilization in video.

Verdict: Sony is the clear video winner.

Travel Photography

• RX100 IV’s size, 24-70mm lens, and 4K video make it an excellent travel companion.
• Olympus offers versatility for destination shoots but adds bulk.

Verdict: Sony for compact travel; Olympus for semi-pro trips.

Professional Work

• Olympus offers RAW support, extensive lens options, and weather sealing, aligning with professional workflow needs.
• Sony’s RAW images are high-res but limited lens perspective.
• Olympus’s slower USB 2.0 and wireless options indicate aged connectivity.
• Storage options equal (SD cards supported).

Verdict: Olympus more professional-friendly.

Olympus E M5 front Olympus E M5 screen back Sony RX100 IV front Sony RX100 IV screen back

Technical Summary: Performance Ratings and Value

Here’s a consolidated snapshot from our testing and DXOmark data:

How They Stack Up Across Photography Genres

Cross-referencing performance with genre suitability reveals clear winners:

Final Assessment: Which Camera Is Right for You?

Choose Olympus OM-D E-M5 if you:

• Want a versatile mirrorless system with a vast lens ecosystem.
• Prioritize image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance.
• Need weather-sealed durability for outdoor shooting.
• Shoot portraits, landscapes, macro, or wildlife requiring specialized optics.
• Are okay with carrying a moderately heavy but manageable kit.
• Prefer manual controls, customizable interfaces, and touchscreen functionality.

Choose Sony RX100 IV if you:

• Demand ultimate portability with class-leading image quality for a compact.
• Want 4K video, slow-motion capabilities, and fast burst shooting.
• Are a street photographer or traveler valuing discretion and convenience.
• Prefer an all-in-one package with a versatile zoom lens.
• Value a high-resolution EVF and tilting screen for framing flexibility.
• Can live without weather sealing or extensive interchangeable lens options.

Closing Thoughts and Practical Advice

In more than a decade of testing thousands of cameras, I’ve found these two to represent intriguing opposite approaches - one embracing modular creative freedom, the other delivering pocket-friendly performance without compromise on key image quality parameters.

For photographers just starting or those valuing minimal hassle, the Sony RX100 IV packs an impressive feature set - especially in video and speed - in a truly compact chassis.

For enthusiasts and professionals seeking broader photographic possibilities, more precise manual handling, and resilience, the Olympus E-M5 remains a reliable performer, even years after release. It lays a solid foundation for growth within the Micro Four Thirds system.

Both models have aged gracefully but knowing your specific shooting style, environment, and priorities will help tilt this balanced equation.

Happy shooting!