A potelyt.com – Photography & Imaging Resources
ad

When you use links on apotelyt.com to buy products,
the site may earn a commission.

PW

Sony NEX-5 vs Olympus E-M5 II

The Sony Alpha NEX-5 and the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in May 2010 and February 2015. Both the NEX-5 and the E-M5 II are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on an APS-C (NEX-5) and a Four Thirds (E-M5 II) sensor. The Sony has a resolution of 14 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 15.9 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Sony NEX-5
versus
Olympus E-M5 II
Sony NEX-5   Olympus E-M5 II
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Sony E mount lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
14 MP – APS-C sensor 15.9 MP – Four Thirds sensor
1080/60i Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 200-12,800 ISO 200-25,600
Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0" LCD – 920k dots 3.0" LCD – 1037k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen) Swivel touchscreen
7 shutter flaps per second 10 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
330 shots per battery charge310 shots per battery charge
111 x 59 x 38 mm, 287 g 124 x 85 x 45 mm, 469 g
logo
Check NEX-5 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check E-M5 II offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Alpha NEX-5 and the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II? 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.

ad

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Sony NEX-5 and the Olympus E-M5 II 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.

Both cameras are available in two different colors (black, silver).

Size Sony NEX-5 vs Olympus E-M5 II
Compare NEX-5 versus E-M5 II top
Comparison NEX-5 or E-M5 II rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-M5 II is considerably larger (61 percent) than the Sony NEX-5. Moreover, the E-M5 II is substantially heavier (63 percent) than the NEX-5. It is noteworthy in this context that the E-M5 II is splash and dust-proof, while the NEX-5 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

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 Sony E-Mount Lens Catalog (NEX-5) and the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-M5 II). 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 NEX-5 gets 330 shots out of its Sony NP-FW50 battery, while the E-M5 II can take 310 images on a single charge of its Olympus BLN-1 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. 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.

scroll hint
Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony NEX-5 111 mm 59 mm 38 mm 287 g 330 n May 2010 699ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-M5 II 124 mm 85 mm 45 mm 469 g 310 Y Feb 2015 1,099ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 130 mm 94 mm 63 mm 497 g 350 Y Sep 2013 1,399ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-M5 122 mm 89 mm 43 mm 425 g 360 Y Feb 2012 1,299ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-M5 III 125 mm 85 mm 50 mm 414 g 310 Y Oct 2019 1,199ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 119 mm 82 mm 46 mm 396 g 320 n Jan 2014 699ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 II 120 mm 83 mm 47 mm 390 g 320 n Aug 2015 649ebay.com
8.
 
Ricoh GR II 117 mm 63 mm 35 mm 251 g 320 n Jun 2015 699ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A6000 120 mm 67 mm 45 mm 344 g 360 n Feb 2014 599ebay.com
10.
 
Sony NEX-3 117 mm 62 mm 33 mm 297 g 330 n May 2010 599ebay.com
11.
 
Sony NEX-3N 110 mm 62 mm 35 mm 269 g 480 n Feb 2013 499ebay.com
12.
 
Sony NEX-5N 111 mm 59 mm 38 mm 269 g 460 n Aug 2011 699ebay.com
13.
 
Sony NEX-5R 111 mm 59 mm 39 mm 276 g 330 n Aug 2012 749ebay.com
14.
 
Sony NEX-5T 111 mm 59 mm 39 mm 276 g 330 n Aug 2013 699ebay.com
15.
 
Sony NEX-6 120 mm 67 mm 43 mm 345 g 360 n Sep 2012 999ebay.com
16.
 
Sony NEX-C3 110 mm 60 mm 33 mm 225 g 400 n Jun 2011 599ebay.com
17.
 
Sony NEX-F3 117 mm 67 mm 42 mm 314 g 470 n May 2012 599ebay.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 listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The NEX-5 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 36 percent) than the E-M5 II, 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 imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Sony NEX-5 features an APS-C sensor and the Olympus E-M5 II a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the E-M5 II is 38 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 2.0. The sensor in the NEX-5 has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the E-M5 II offers a 4:3 aspect.

Sony NEX-5 and Olympus E-M5 II sensor measures

Despite having a smaller sensor, the E-M5 II offers a higher resolution of 15.9 megapixels, compared with 14 MP of the NEX-5. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.76μm versus 5.11μm for the NEX-5). However, it should be noted that the E-M5 II is much more recent (by 4 years and 8 months) than the NEX-5, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

Unlike the NEX-5, 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 Sony Alpha NEX-5 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II are ISO 200 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

NEX-5 versus E-M5 II MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. 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"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the E-M5 II has a markedly higher DXO score than the NEX-5 (overall score 4 points higher), which will translate into better image quality. The advantage is based on 0.8 bits higher color depth, 0.3 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.1 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

scroll hint
Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Sony NEX-5 APS-C 14.0 4592 30561080/60i22.212.279669
2.
 
Olympus E-M5 II Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p23.012.584273
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.
 
Ricoh GR II APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.613.7107880
9.
 
Sony A6000 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.113.1134782
10.
 
Sony NEX-3 APS-C 14.0 4592 3056720/30p22.112.083068
11.
 
Sony NEX-3N APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i22.812.5106774
12.
 
Sony NEX-5N APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i23.612.7107977
13.
 
Sony NEX-5R APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i23.713.191078
14.
 
Sony NEX-5T APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60p23.613.0101578
15.
 
Sony NEX-6 APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i23.713.1101878
16.
 
Sony NEX-C3 APS-C 16.0 4912 3264720/30p22.712.2108373
17.
 
Sony NEX-F3 APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i22.712.3111473
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the E-M5 II provides a faster frame rate than the NEX-5. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60p, while the Sony is limited to 1080/60i.

ad

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the E-M5 II has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the NEX-5 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the NEX-5 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the FDA-SV1. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Sony NEX-5 and Olympus E-M5 II in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

scroll hint
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.
 
Sony NEX-5optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 7.0/s n n
2.
 
Olympus E-M5 II2360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/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.
 
Ricoh GR IIoptional n3.0 / 1230 fixed n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
9.
 
Sony A60001440 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
10.
 
Sony NEX-3optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 7.0/s n n
11.
 
Sony NEX-3Noptional n3.0 / 460 tilting n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
12.
 
Sony NEX-5Noptional n3.0 / 920 tilting Y 1/4000s 10.0/s n n
13.
 
Sony NEX-5Roptional n3.0 / 920 tilting Y 1/4000s 10.0/s n n
14.
 
Sony NEX-5Toptional n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 10.0/s n n
15.
 
Sony NEX-62359 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
16.
 
Sony NEX-C3optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 5.5/s n n
17.
 
Sony NEX-F3optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 5.5/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The E-M5 II has a touchscreen, while the NEX-5 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

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, the E-M5 II is one of those camera that have an additional 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 has 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 NEX-5 writes its imaging data to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards, while the E-M5 II uses SDXC cards. The E-M5 II supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the NEX-5 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

ad

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 Sony Alpha NEX-5 and Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

scroll hint
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.
 
Sony NEX-5Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
2.
 
Olympus E-M5 IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
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.
 
Ricoh GR IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
9.
 
Sony A6000Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
10.
 
Sony NEX-3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
11.
 
Sony NEX-3N-stereo / mono--micro2.0---
12.
 
Sony NEX-5NYstereo / mono--mini2.0---
13.
 
Sony NEX-5RYstereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
14.
 
Sony NEX-5TYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
15.
 
Sony NEX-6Ystereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
16.
 
Sony NEX-C3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
17.
 
Sony NEX-F3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---

It is notable that the E-M5 II offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the NEX-5 does not provide wifi capability.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Olympus E-M5 II (unlike the NEX-5) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the NEX-5 and the E-M5 II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The NEX-5 was replaced by the Sony NEX-5N, while the E-M5 II was followed by the Olympus E-M5 III. Further information on the features and operation of the NEX-5 and E-M5 II can be found, respectively, in the Sony NEX-5 Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-M5 II Manual.

ad

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Sony NEX-5 or the Olympus E-M5 II – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

ilogo

Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha NEX-5:

  • More compact: Is smaller (111x59mm vs 124x85mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 182g or 39 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (36 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in May 2010).

ilogo

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

  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (4 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/60i).
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 920k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-II standard.
  • More modern: Reflects 4 years and 8 months of technical progress since the NEX-5 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the E-M5 II is the clear winner of the contest (18 : 4 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. 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.

NEX-5 04:18 E-M5 II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony NEX-5 and the Olympus E-M5 II 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 technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the NEX-5 or the E-M5 II. 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 table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear 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.

scroll hint
Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony NEX-53/5+ +..71/1004.5/54/5 May 2010 699ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-M5 II5/5+ +4.5/581/1005/55/5 Feb 2015 1,099ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-M15/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2013 1,399ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-M54/5+ +..80/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2012 1,299ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-M5 III5/5+5/582/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2019 1,199ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-M104/5....80/1005/55/5 Jan 2014 699ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 II4.5/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 Aug 2015 649ebay.com
8.
 
Ricoh GR II........4.5/54.5/5 Jun 2015 699ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A60005/5+4.5/580/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2014 599ebay.com
10.
 
Sony NEX-3......70/1004.5/54/5 May 2010 599ebay.com
11.
 
Sony NEX-3N3/5......4.5/54.5/5 Feb 2013 499ebay.com
12.
 
Sony NEX-5N3/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2011 699ebay.com
13.
 
Sony NEX-5R........4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2012 749ebay.com
14.
 
Sony NEX-5T........4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2013 699ebay.com
15.
 
Sony NEX-65/5+ +..78/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 999ebay.com
16.
 
Sony NEX-C33/5+ +..74/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2011 599ebay.com
17.
 
Sony NEX-F34/5....74/1004.5/54.5/5 May 2012 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted 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 comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

logo
Check NEX-5 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check E-M5 II offers at
ebay.com

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 your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

~
    loader
    ad

    Specifications: Sony NEX-5 vs Olympus E-M5 II

    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 Sony NEX-5 Olympus E-M5 II
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Sony E mount lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date May 2010 February 2015
    Launch Price USD 699 USD 1,099
    Sensor Specs Sony NEX-5 Olympus E-M5 II
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.4 x 15.6 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 365.04 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.1 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 14 Megapixels 15.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4592 x 3056 pixels 4608 x 3456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.11 μm 3.76 μm
    Pixel Density 3.84 MP/cm2 7.08 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60i Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 200 - 12,800 ISO 200 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 100 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor BIONZ TruePic VII
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 69 73
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 22.2 23.0
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.2 12.5
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 796 842
    Screen Specs Sony NEX-5 Olympus E-M5 II
    Viewfinder Type Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.74x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 920k dots 1037k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Sony NEX-5 Olympus E-M5 II
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 7 shutter flaps/s 10 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/16000s
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium MS or SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs Sony NEX-5 Olympus E-M5 II
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Body Specs Sony NEX-5 Olympus E-M5 II
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Sony NP-FW50 Olympus BLN-1
    Battery Life (CIPA)330 shots per charge310 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 111 x 59 x 38 mm
    (4.4 x 2.3 x 1.5 in)
    124 x 85 x 45 mm
    (4.9 x 3.3 x 1.8 in)
    Camera Weight 287 g (10.1 oz) 469 g (16.5 oz)
    logo
    Check NEX-5 offers at
    ebay.com
    logo
    Check E-M5 II offers at
    ebay.com

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

    You are here Home  »  CAM-parator  »  Sony NEX-5 vs Olympus E-M5 II