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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A9 III

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III and the Sony Alpha A9 III are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2020 and November 2023. Both the E-M1 III and the A9 III are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on a Four Thirds (E-M1 III) and a full frame (A9 III) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Olympus E-M1 III
versus
Sony A9 III
Olympus E-M1 III   Sony A9 III
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses Sony E mount lenses
20.2 MP – Four Thirds sensor 24 MP – Full Frame sensor
4K/30p Video 4K/120p Video
ISO 200-25,600 ISO 250-25,600 (125 - 51,200)
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots) Electronic viewfinder (9440k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1037k dots 3.2" LCD – 2100k dots
Swivel touchscreen Fully flexible touchscreen
18 shutter flaps per second 120 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
420 shots per battery charge530 shots per battery charge
134 x 91 x 69 mm, 580 g 136 x 97 x 83 mm, 702 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III and the Sony Alpha A9 III? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-M1 III and the Sony A9 III. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A9 III
Compare E-M1 III versus A9 III top
Comparison E-M1 III or A9 III rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A9 III is notably larger (8 percent) than the Olympus E-M1 III. Moreover, the A9 III is markedly heavier (21 percent) than the E-M1 III. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-M1 III) and the Sony FE Lens Catalog (A9 III). Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

Concerning battery life, the E-M1 III gets 420 shots out of its Olympus BLH-1 battery, while the A9 III can take 530 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FZ100 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-M1 III 134 mm 91 mm 69 mm 580 g 420 Y Feb 2020 US$ 1 799ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A9 III 136 mm 97 mm 83 mm 702 g 530 Y Nov 2023 US$ 5 999 amazon.com
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 130 mm 94 mm 63 mm 497 g 350 Y Sep 2013 US$ 1 399ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 II 134 mm 91 mm 67 mm 574 g 440 Y Sep 2016 US$ 1 999ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-M1X 144 mm 147 mm 75 mm 997 g 870 Y Jan 2019 US$ 2 999ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-M5 III 125 mm 85 mm 50 mm 414 g 310 Y Oct 2019 US$ 1 199ebay.com
7.
 
OM System OM-1 135 mm 92 mm 73 mm 599 g 520 Y Feb 2022 US$ 2 199ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic G9 137 mm 97 mm 92 mm 658 g 400 Y Nov 2017 US$ 1 699ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic G95 130 mm 94 mm 77 mm 536 g 290 Y Apr 2019 US$ 999ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GH5 139 mm 98 mm 87 mm 725 g 410 Y Jan 2017 US$ 1 999ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GH5 II 139 mm 98 mm 87 mm 727 g 400 Y May 2021 US$ 1 699 amazon.com
12.
 
Panasonic GX8 133 mm 78 mm 63 mm 487 g 330 Y Jul 2015 US$ 1 199ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A1 129 mm 97 mm 81 mm 737 g 530 Y Jan 2021 US$ 6 499 amazon.com
14.
 
Sony A7 II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 599 g 350 Y Nov 2014 US$ 1 999ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A7 III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 610 Y Feb 2018 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A9 127 mm 96 mm 63 mm 673 g 650 Y Apr 2017 US$ 4 499ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A9 II 129 mm 96 mm 76 mm 678 g 690 Y Oct 2019 US$ 4 499 amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The E-M1 III was launched at a markedly lower price (by 70 percent) than the A9 III, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus E-M1 III features a Four Thirds sensor and the Sony A9 III a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A9 III is 276 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.0. The sensor in the E-M1 III has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the A9 III offers a 3:2 aspect.

Olympus E-M1 III and Sony A9 III sensor measures

With 24MP, the A9 III offers a higher resolution than the E-M1 III (20.2MP), but the A9 III nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 3.34μm for the E-M1 III) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the A9 III is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 8 months) than the E-M1 III, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the E-M1 III has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A9 III implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A9 III for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-M1 III are 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm for good quality, 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm for very good quality, and 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

Unlike the A9 III, the E-M1 III has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (80MP) by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 64-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A9 III are ISO 250 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 125-51200.

In terms of underlying technology, the E-M1 III is build around a CMOS sensor, while the A9 III uses a Stacked CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

E-M1 III versus A9 III MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus E-M1 III Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.313.1135676
2.
 
Sony A9 III Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/120p25.414.7324396
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p23.012.775773
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 II Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.712.8131280
5.
 
Olympus E-M1X Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.213.0125475
6.
 
Olympus E-M5 III Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.313.1132476
7.
 
OM System OM-1 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.413.4155377
8.
 
Panasonic G9 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.112.8113874
9.
 
Panasonic G95 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.213.0127375
10.
 
Panasonic GH5 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.913.080777
11.
 
Panasonic GH5 II Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.713.1113679
12.
 
Panasonic GX8 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.512.680675
13.
 
Sony A1 Full Frame 49.8 8640 57608k/30p25.914.5316398
14.
 
Sony A7 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.913.6244990
15.
 
Sony A7 III Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.7373096
16.
 
Sony A9 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.913.3351792
17.
 
Sony A9 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.0343493
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the A9 III provides a faster frame rate than the E-M1 III. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/120p, while the Olympus is limited to 4K/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the A9 III offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the E-M1 III (9440k vs 2360k dots). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Olympus E-M1 III and Sony A9 III in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Olympus E-M1 III2360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 18.0/s n Y
2.
 
Sony A9 III9440 n3.2 / 2100 full-flex Y 1/80000s 120.0/s n Y
3.
 
Olympus E-M12360 n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 II2360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 18.0/s n Y
5.
 
Olympus E-M1X2360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 18.0/s n Y
6.
 
Olympus E-M5 III2360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
7.
 
OM System OM-15760 n3.0 / 1640 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
8.
 
Panasonic G93680 Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
9.
 
Panasonic G952360 n3.0 / 1240 swivel Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Panasonic GH53680 n3.2 / 1620 swivel Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
11.
 
Panasonic GH5 II3680 n3.0 / 1840 swivel Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
12.
 
Panasonic GX82360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
13.
 
Sony A19437 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
14.
 
Sony A7 II2400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
15.
 
Sony A7 III2359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
16.
 
Sony A93686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
17.
 
Sony A9 II3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Olympus E-M1 III and the Sony A9 III both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The E-M1 III writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A9 III uses CFexpress (type A) or SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. Both cameras support UHS-II cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s (the second slot of the E-M1 III supports only UHS-I, though).

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III and Sony Alpha A9 III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Olympus E-M1 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1Y-Y
2.
 
Sony A9 IIIYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
3.
 
Olympus E-M1Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.0Y--
5.
 
Olympus E-M1XYstereo / monoYYmicro3.0Y-Y
6.
 
Olympus E-M5 IIIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
7.
 
OM System OM-1Ystereo / monoYYmicro3.0Y-Y
8.
 
Panasonic G9Ystereo / monoYYfull3.0Y-Y
9.
 
Panasonic G95Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0Y-Y
10.
 
Panasonic GH5Ystereo / monoYYfull3.1Y-Y
11.
 
Panasonic GH5 IIYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
12.
 
Panasonic GX8Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
13.
 
Sony A1Ystereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
14.
 
Sony A7 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
15.
 
Sony A7 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
16.
 
Sony A9Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0YYY
17.
 
Sony A9 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

The A9 III is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony. In contrast, the E-M1 III has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the E-M1 III was succeeded by the OM System OM-1. Further information on the features and operation of the E-M1 III and A9 III can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-M1 III Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A9 III Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Olympus E-M1 III and the Sony A9 III? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Reasons to prefer the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III:

  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 122g or 17 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (70 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2020).

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Advantages of the Sony Alpha A9 III:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 20.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 11%.
  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
  • Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (4K/120p versus 4K/30p).
  • More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (9440k vs 2360k dots).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.9x vs 0.74x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2100k vs 1037k dots).
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/80000s vs 1/8000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (120 vs 18 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (530 versus 420) out of a single battery charge.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 3.1).
  • More solid recording: Has a full-sized HDMI port for a sturdy connection to an external recorder.
  • More modern: Reflects 3 years and 8 months of technical progress since the E-M1 III launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A9 III is the clear winner of the contest (17 : 5 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-M1 III 05:17 A9 III

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-M1 III and the Sony A9 III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-M1 III or the A9 III. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-M1 III5/5..5/583/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2020 US$ 1 799ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A9 III4.5/5.......... Nov 2023 US$ 5 999 amazon.com
3.
 
Olympus E-M15/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2013 US$ 1 399ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 II5/5+ +5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2016 US$ 1 999ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-M1X4.5/5o5/585/1004.5/5.. Jan 2019 US$ 2 999ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-M5 III5/5+5/582/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2019 US$ 1 199ebay.com
7.
 
OM System OM-15/5....87/1005/54.5/5 Feb 2022 US$ 2 199ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic G9..+ +5/585/1005/55/5 Nov 2017 US$ 1 699ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic G954.5/5+4.5/583/1004.5/54.5/5 Apr 2019 US$ 999ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GH54.5/5+ +..85/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2017 US$ 1 999ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GH5 II4.5/5..4.5/585/1004.5/55/5 May 2021 US$ 1 699 amazon.com
12.
 
Panasonic GX85/5+..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jul 2015 US$ 1 199ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A15/5o4.5/593/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2021 US$ 6 499 amazon.com
14.
 
Sony A7 II5/5+4/582/1004.5/55/5 Nov 2014 US$ 1 999ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A7 III..+ +4.5/589/1005/55/5 Feb 2018 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A95/5+ +4.8/589/1005/55/5 Apr 2017 US$ 4 499ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A9 II....5/590/1005/55/5 Oct 2019 US$ 4 499 amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A9 III

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Olympus E-M1 III Sony A9 III
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2020 November 2023
    Launch Price USD 1,799 USD 5,999
    Sensor Specs Olympus E-M1 III Sony A9 III
    Sensor Technology CMOS Stacked CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 35.6 x 23.8 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 847.28 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 42.8 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 20.2 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5184 x 3888 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.34 μm 5.94 μm
    Pixel Density 8.96 MP/cm2 2.83 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video 4K/120p Video
    ISO Setting 200 - 25,600 ISO 250 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost 64 - 25,600 ISO 125 - 51,200 ISO
    Image Processor TruePic IX Dual BIONZ XR
    Screen Specs Olympus E-M1 III Sony A9 III
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.74x 0.9x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots 9440k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.2inch
    LCD Resolution 1037k dots 2100k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Fully flexible screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Olympus E-M1 III Sony A9 III
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/80000s
    Continuous Shooting 18 shutter flaps/s 120 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterup to 1/32000sup to 1/80000s
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards CFexA or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Dual card slots
    UHS card support Single UHS-II UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs Olympus E-M1 III Sony A9 III
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 3.1 USB 3.2
    HDMI Port micro HDMI full HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Olympus E-M1 III Sony A9 III
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Olympus BLH-1 Sony NP-FZ100
    Battery Life (CIPA)420 shots per charge530 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 134 x 91 x 69 mm
    (5.3 x 3.6 x 2.7 in)
    136 x 97 x 83 mm
    (5.4 x 3.8 x 3.3 in)
    Camera Weight 580 g (20.5 oz) 702 g (24.8 oz)
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