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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 III

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and the Sony Alpha A9 III are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2015 and November 2023. Both the E-M5 II and the A9 III are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on a Four Thirds (E-M5 II) and a full frame (A9 III) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 15.9 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-M5 II
versus
Sony A9 III
Olympus E-M5 II   Sony A9 III
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses Sony E mount lenses
15.9 MP – Four Thirds sensor 24 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/60p 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
10 shutter flaps per second 120 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
310 shots per battery charge530 shots per battery charge
124 x 85 x 45 mm, 469 g 136 x 97 x 83 mm, 702 g
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Check E-M5 II offers at
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Check A9 III price at
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II 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

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-M5 II and the Sony A9 III is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-M5 II can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the A9 III is only available in black.

Size Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 III
Compare E-M5 II versus A9 III top
Comparison E-M5 II 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 (25 percent) than the Olympus E-M5 II. Moreover, the A9 III is substantially heavier (50 percent) than the E-M5 II. 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-M5 II) 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-M5 II gets 310 shots out of its Olympus BLN-1 battery, while the A9 III can take 530 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FZ100 power pack. The power pack in the A9 III can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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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-M5 II 124 mm 85 mm 45 mm 469 g 310 Y Feb 2015 US$ 1 099ebay.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-M5 122 mm 89 mm 43 mm 425 g 360 Y Feb 2012 US$ 1 299ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-M5 III 125 mm 85 mm 50 mm 414 g 310 Y Oct 2019 US$ 1 199ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 119 mm 82 mm 46 mm 396 g 320 n Jan 2014 US$ 699ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 II 120 mm 83 mm 47 mm 390 g 320 n Aug 2015 US$ 649ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-P5 122 mm 69 mm 37 mm 420 g 330 n May 2013 US$ 999ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus PEN-F 125 mm 72 mm 37 mm 427 g 330 n Jan 2016 US$ 1 199ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic G85 128 mm 89 mm 74 mm 505 g 330 Y Sep 2016 US$ 899ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GX8 133 mm 78 mm 63 mm 487 g 330 Y Jul 2015 US$ 1 199ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GX85 122 mm 71 mm 44 mm 426 g 290 n Apr 2016 US$ 799 amazon.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 manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The E-M5 II was launched at a markedly lower price (by 82 percent) than the A9 III, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. 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 tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units 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-M5 II 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-M5 II has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the A9 III offers a 3:2 aspect.

Olympus E-M5 II and Sony A9 III sensor measures

With 24MP, the A9 III offers a higher resolution than the E-M5 II (15.9MP), but the A9 III nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 3.76μm for the E-M5 II) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the A9 III is a much more recent model (by 8 years and 9 months) than the E-M5 II, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

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-M5 II are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The A9 III has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

Unlike the A9 III, the E-M5 II has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (40MP) 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-M5 Mark II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. 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-M5 II 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-M5 II 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 following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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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-M5 II Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p23.012.584273
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-M5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60i22.812.382671
5.
 
Olympus E-M5 III Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.313.1132476
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.388472
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 II Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p23.112.584273
8.
 
Olympus E-P5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.489572
9.
 
Olympus PEN-F Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38881080/60p23.112.489474
10.
 
Panasonic G85 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34484K/30p22.812.565671
11.
 
Panasonic GX8 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.512.680675
12.
 
Panasonic GX85 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34484K/30p22.912.666271
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. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the A9 III provides a better video resolution than the E-M5 II. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/120p, while the Olympus is limited to 1080/60p.

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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-M5 II (9440k vs 2360k dots). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Olympus E-M5 II 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-M5 II2360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/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-M51440 n3.0 / 610 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s n Y
5.
 
Olympus E-M5 III2360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
6.
 
Olympus E-M101440 n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 II2360 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Olympus E-P5optional n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/8000s 9.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Olympus PEN-F2360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
10.
 
Panasonic G852360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Panasonic GX82360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
12.
 
Panasonic GX852765 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s Y 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-M5 II 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-M5 II writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A9 III uses CFexpress (type A) or SDXC cards. The A9 III features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the E-M5 II only has one slot. Both cameras support UHS-II cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s.

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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-M5 Mark II 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-M5 IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
2.
 
Sony A9 IIIYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
3.
 
Olympus E-M1Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
4.
 
Olympus E-M5Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
5.
 
Olympus E-M5 IIIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
6.
 
Olympus E-M10Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
8.
 
Olympus E-P5Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
9.
 
Olympus PEN-FYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
10.
 
Panasonic G85Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
11.
 
Panasonic GX8Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
12.
 
Panasonic GX85Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
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

It is notable that the A9 III has a headphone jack, which makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process. The E-M5 II lacks such a headphone port.

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-M5 II has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the E-M5 II was succeeded by the Olympus E-M5 III. Further information on the features and operation of the E-M5 II and A9 III can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-M5 II Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A9 III Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Olympus E-M5 II and the Sony A9 III? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

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Advantages of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II:

  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • More compact: Is smaller (124x85mm vs 136x97mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 233g or 33 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (82 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2015).

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Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha A9 III:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 15.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 25%.
  • 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 definition movie capture (4K/120p vs 1080/60p).
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • 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 10 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (530 versus 310) out of a single battery charge.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 2.0).
  • More solid recording: Has a full-sized HDMI port for a sturdy connection to an external recorder.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More modern: Reflects 8 years and 9 months of technical progress since the E-M5 II 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 (21 : 5 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-M5 II 05:21 A9 III

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-M5 II 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 comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the E-M5 II or the A9 III perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular 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-M5 II5/5+ +4.5/581/1005/55/5 Feb 2015 US$ 1 099ebay.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-M54/5+ +..80/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2012 US$ 1 299ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-M5 III5/5+5/582/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2019 US$ 1 199ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-M104/5....80/1005/55/5 Jan 2014 US$ 699ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 II4.5/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 Aug 2015 US$ 649ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-P55/5+ +..78/1004.5/55/5 May 2013 US$ 999ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus PEN-F....4/582/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 US$ 1 199ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic G85..+ +..84/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2016 US$ 899ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GX85/5+..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jul 2015 US$ 1 199ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GX854.5/5+ +..82/1005/55/5 Apr 2016 US$ 799 amazon.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.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Check A9 III price at
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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Olympus E-M5 II 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-M5 II Sony A9 III
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2015 November 2023
    Launch Price USD 1,099 USD 5,999
    Sensor Specs Olympus E-M5 II 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 15.9 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4608 x 3456 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.76 μm 5.94 μm
    Pixel Density 7.08 MP/cm2 2.83 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 4K/120p Video
    ISO Setting 200 - 25,600 ISO 250 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 25,600 ISO 125 - 51,200 ISO
    Image Processor TruePic VII Dual BIONZ XR
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 73 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.0 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.5 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 842 ..
    Screen Specs Olympus E-M5 II 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-M5 II Sony A9 III
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/80000s
    Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s 120 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterup to 1/16000sup 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 Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support UHS-II UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs Olympus E-M5 II Sony A9 III
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.2
    HDMI Port micro HDMI full HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Olympus E-M5 II Sony A9 III
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Olympus BLN-1 Sony NP-FZ100
    Battery Life (CIPA)310 shots per charge530 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45 mm
    (4.9 x 3.3 x 1.8 in)
    136 x 97 x 83 mm
    (5.4 x 3.8 x 3.3 in)
    Camera Weight 469 g (16.5 oz) 702 g (24.8 oz)
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