Clicky

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony S980

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony S980 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
  • Released April 2012
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Introduced February 2009
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony S980 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-M5 and Sony S980, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and S980 (12MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and S980 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor size.

Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

The E-M5 was launched 3 years after the S980 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-M5 grades against the S980 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony S980

 E-M5 S980 
IntroducedApril 2012February 2009More modern by 39 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution610k230kSharper display (+380k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Olympus E-M5

 S980 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony S980

 E-M5 S980 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 enjoys exterior measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony S980 has sizing of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 and Sony S980 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M5 compared to the S980.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and S980 is 81 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes simply by looking at specifications. The image below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and S980.

Plainly, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-M5 will resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The newer E-M5 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography details
Sony S980 Portrait photography details
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
27
has manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography information
Sony S980 Street photography information
82
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
has touch to focus
environment proof
above average high ISO (25,600)
47
no moving screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography highlights
Sony S980 Sports photography highlights
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
doesn't have phase detect AF
17
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography details
Sony S980 Travel photography details
66
environment proof
has touch to focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
51
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Sony S980
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
missing Timelapse recording
27
has manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
34
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing microphone socket
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic socket
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony S980
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-04-30 2009-02-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425g (0.94 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $799 $300