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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A37

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A37 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
  • Launched April 2012
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched May 2012
  • Older Model is Sony A35
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A37 Overview

Here is a complete review of the Olympus E-M5 versus Sony A37, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the A37 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and A37 (APS-C) use different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 was announced around the same time to the A37 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-M5 grades vs the A37 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony A37

 E-M5 A37 
Screen dimension3"2.6"Bigger screen (+0.4")
Screen resolution610k230kCrisper screen (+380k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Olympus E-M5

 A37 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A37

 E-M5 A37 
LaunchedApril 2012May 2012Same generation
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 provides outer dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony A37 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M5 versus Sony A37 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-M5 vs the A37.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and A37 is 81 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing only by checking out specifications. The photograph underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and A37.

To sum up, both cameras have got the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor sizing. The E-M5 features the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower depth of field more difficult.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Sony A37
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
74
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography features
Sony A37 Street photography features
82
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports touch to focus
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
77
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography features
Sony A37 Sports photography features
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has no phase detect autofocus
61
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
bad battery power (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography info
Sony A37 Travel photography info
66
weather sealing
supports touch to focus
good resolution (16MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
54
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery power (500 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Sony A37
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
does not have Time Lapse recording
64
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.6 inch)
bad battery power (500 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Sony A37
34
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic socket
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone jack
screen is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony A37
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony SLT-A37
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-04-30 2012-05-16
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.6 inches
Resolution of screen 610k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s 1/160s
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 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 grams (0.94 lbs) 506 grams (1.12 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 75
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 12.9
DXO Low light rating 826 799
Other
Battery life 360 shots 500 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $799 $522