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Olympus E-P5 vs Sony a3500

Portability
85
Imaging
52
Features
76
Overall
61
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P3
Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Revealed March 2014
  • Older Model is Sony A3000
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Olympus E-P5 vs Sony a3500 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Olympus E-P5 vs Sony a3500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-P5 (16MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is pretty well matched but the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and a3500 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-P5 was released 5 months prior to the a3500 which means that they are both of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-P5 matches up vs the a3500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Sony a3500

 E-P5 a3500 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Olympus E-P5

 a3500 E-P5 

Common features in the Olympus E-P5 and Sony a3500

 E-P5 a3500 
RevealedOctober 2013March 2014Similar age
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-P5 provides physical dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) and the Sony a3500 has specifications of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P5 vs Sony a3500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-P5 compared to the a3500.

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P5 and a3500 is 85 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading through technical specs. The visual here will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P5 and a3500.

As you have seen, each of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-P5 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Sony a3500 will give you extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P5 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/320s)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
77
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Street photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Street photography camera
78
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
heavier than average (420g)
57
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
heavier than average in class (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Sports photography factors
Sony a3500 Sports photography factors
67
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
60
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
better than average battery life (470 shots)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P5
Travel photography with Sony a3500
68
comes with touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
heavier than average (420g)
screen is not selfie friendly
60
better than average battery life (470 CIPA)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (411 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Landscape photography highlights
Sony a3500 Landscape photography highlights
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
70
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (470 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Vlogging info
Sony a3500 Vlogging info
33
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic support
heavier than average (420 grams)
26
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
no mic jack
heavier than average in class (411 grams)
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Olympus E-P5 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P5 and Sony a3500
 Olympus PEN E-P5Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P5 Sony Alpha a3500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-10-03 2014-03-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 25600 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 9.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (ISO 100) 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64) Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/320 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 420 gr (0.93 pounds) 411 gr (0.91 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 895 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 470 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $389 $398