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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony a5100

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
65
Features
74
Overall
68

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony a5100 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released May 2013
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PM1
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony a5000
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony a5100 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and a5100 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM2 was brought out 15 months prior to the a5100 making them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-PM2 matches up against the a5100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony a5100

 E-PM2 a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Olympus E-PM2

 a5100 E-PM2 
IntroducedAugust 2014May 2013Fresher by 15 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony a5100

 E-PM2 a5100 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM2 provides outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Sony a5100 has measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony a5100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PM2 vs the a5100.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and a5100 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to envision the difference between sensor sizing purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph below might give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and a5100.

Clearly, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony a5100 will offer greater detail having its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The older E-PM2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography info
Sony a5100 Portrait photography info
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Street photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Street photography camera
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
82
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
includes focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Sports photography camera
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
68
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking focus
great battery life (400 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
slow fps (6.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Travel photography camera
66
boasts touch focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
80
great battery life (400 CIPA)
includes focus via touch
good megapixels (24MP)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Landscape photography camera
74
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (400 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging features
Sony a5100 Vlogging features
36
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have mic support
34
touch screen
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone support
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Sony a5100
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony Alpha a5100
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2013-05-21 2014-08-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 179
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 269 gr (0.59 lbs) 283 gr (0.62 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 80
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 12.7
DXO Low light score 932 1347
Other
Battery life 360 shots 400 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $448 $448