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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A6500

Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
68
Features
85
Overall
74

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced May 2013
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PM1
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Announced October 2016
  • Succeeded the Sony A6300
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Sony A6500, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and A6500 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM2 was released 4 years prior to the A6500 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-PM2 scores versus the A6500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony A6500

 E-PM2 A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Olympus E-PM2

 A6500 E-PM2 
AnnouncedOctober 2016May 2013Newer by 41 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony A6500

 E-PM2 A6500 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 offers exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Sony A6500 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM2 versus Sony A6500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PM2 and the A6500.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and A6500 is 89 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions simply by looking through technical specs. The picture here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and A6500.

As you can tell, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A6500 will result in greater detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged E-PM2 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM2
Portrait photography with Sony A6500
71
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
80
has manual focus
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography advice
Sony A6500 Street photography advice
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
supports focus via touch
weather proofing
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography information
Sony A6500 Sports photography information
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect AF
77
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
bad battery power (350 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Travel photography camera
66
includes touch to focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
74
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
supports focus via touch
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
bad battery power (350 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography details
Sony A6500 Landscape photography details
74
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no Timelapse recording
80
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
bad battery power (350 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
Vlogging with Sony A6500
36
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no external microphone support
39
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with microphone socket
screen is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Sony A6500
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony Alpha a6500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-05-21 2016-10-06
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 area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 425
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per sec 11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lb) 453 gr (1.00 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 85
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 13.7
DXO Low light rating 932 1405
Other
Battery life 360 images 350 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $448 $1,298