Olympus OM-D E-M5 II vs Sony Alpha A7 III

  • Four Thirds
  • 16 megapixels
  • Micro Four Thirds
  • 49
    Overall
  • 20
    Imaging
  • 83
    Features
  • 78
    Size
  • 0
    Price
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  • Full frame
  • 24 megapixels
  • Sony E
  • 50
    Overall
  • 24
    Imaging
  • 88
    Features
  • 73
    Size
  • 0
    Price
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Olympus OM-D E-M5 II vs Sony Alpha A7 III: a Complete Review and Comparison

Are you looking for the best camera to suit your needs? Due to a wide range of options, making a wise and weighted decision can be rather challenging. Which specs to keep in mind? What are the key pros and cons of each model? This comparison should give some helpful hints!

In this review, we are going to make a detailed comparison of two cameras that fall into different categories. While the first model we are looking at, Olympus OM-D E-M5 II belongs to a Semi-Pro Mirrorless category, the other model, Olympus OM-D E-M5 II is a Pro Mirrorless camera. Both models feature different types of sensors. Thus, Olympus OM-D E-M5 II comes with CMOS sensor that has a resolution of 16.0 MP resolution, while our second compared model Sony Alpha A7 III features a 24.0 MP BSI-CMOS sensor.

To get started, let’s take a look at some of the key features of Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Sony Alpha A7 III and, after this, we can go on to our detailed comparison of these models.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Key Features:

  • 16.0 MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor
  • ISO 200 - 25600 (Expands to 100)
  • Image Stabilization: Yes
  • 3″ Fully Articulated Screen
  • ViewFinder: Yes
  • 10.0 fps Continuous Shooting
  • Video: 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p)
  • Built-in Wireless: Yes
  • Dimensions: 124 x 85 x 45 mm
  • Weight: 469 g
  • Environmental Sealing: Yes
  • Built-in GPS: No
  • Replaced Olympus E-M5.

Sony Alpha A7 III Key Features:

  • 24.0 MP Full frame BSI-CMOS sensor
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expands to 50 - 204800)
  • Image Stabilization: Yes
  • 3″ Tilting Screen
  • ViewFinder: Yes
  • 10.0 fps Continuous Shooting
  • Video: 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (120p, 60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
  • Built-in Wireless: Yes
  • Dimensions: 127 x 96 x 74 mm
  • Weight: 650 g
  • Environmental Sealing: Yes
  • Built-in GPS: No
  • Replaced Sony A7 II.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II substituted Olympus E-M5.

Why is Olympus OM-D E-M5 II a better choice than Sony Alpha A7 III

Max Shutter Speed 1/16000 vs 1/8000 Faster shutter speed
Screen Type Fully Articulated vs Tilting Flexible shooting positions
Screen Resolution 1,037k dots vs 922k dots 11.1% higher resolution screen
Weight 469 g vs 650 g 181 g lighter
Viewfinder Resolution 2,360k dots vs 2,359k dots 0% higher resolution

What are the key reasons to pick Sony Alpha A7 III over Olympus OM-D E-M5 II

NFC Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Bluetooth Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Bluetooth
Storage Slots 2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Sensor Resolution 24.0 MP vs 16.0 MP 33.3% more pixels
Sensor Area 852.04 mm2 vs 224.9 mm2 73.6% larger pixel area
Number Of Focus Points 693 vs 81 612 more focus points
Battery Life 610 shots vs 310 shots 300 more frames with a single charge
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Headphone Port Yes vs No Has headphone port
Dxo Color Depth 25 vs 23 Better color depth
Dxo Dynamic Range 14.7 vs 12.4 Better dynamic range
Dxo Low Light Iso 3730 vs 896 Better High ISO performance
Viewfinder Magnification 0.78 vs 0.74 0.04 better magnification

Key PROs of Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Sony Alpha A7 III

Touch Screen Yes | Yes Easy control of camera functions
Screen Size 3″ | 3″ Large display
Screen Type Fully Articulated | Tilting Help viewing and changing settings easily
Viewfinder Electronic | Electronic Better framing and control
Raw Support Yes | Yes Better image quality
AutoFocus Face Detection Yes | Yes Very handy for portraits
Microphone Port Yes | Yes High quality audio recording option
Bracketing Yes | Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps | 10.0 fps Nice continuous shooting
Image Stabilization Yes | Yes Built-in stabilization
Flash Sync Port Yes | Yes Port for Flash Sync
Environmental Sealing Yes | Yes Shoot at tough conditions

Key CONs of Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Sony Alpha A7 III

Built-In Flash No | No No built-in flash

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II vs Sony Alpha A7 III: Comparing Two Models By Physical Characteristics

Before heading straight to the technical characteristics of each model, let’s start with comparing their physical specs. Let’s start with looking at the physical difference of the two products. Below are images that clearly show the sizes of Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Sony Alpha A7 III from the front view.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
Sony Alpha A7 III
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Now, let’s go on and see how the reviewed models are different or similar by the top view.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
Sony Alpha A7 III
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After looking at these images, you should get a clear idea of each model’s dimensions and how they are different from each other. However, we are not going to stop there. The next characteristic worth looking at is the weight. Of course, not every photographer is concerned about the weight, for example, it wouldn't be a decisive point for those who shoot in a studio. However, it is still an important factor because if you happen to go on a long photo session or just love having the camera with you wherever you go, you want to be sure that the chosen model isn't too heavy.

Speaking of weight, Olympus OM-D E-M5 II is a lighter option of these two, as it weights 181g less than the Sony Alpha A7 III. This difference, in fact, can become a significant disadvantage for the photographers, who prefer to have their cameras with them wherever they go.

Comparing Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Sony Alpha A7 III by the type of Sensor and Resolution

Sensor is, without a doubt, the most significant element of every digital camera. Its type, size, and resolution are the factors that define the quality of future shots. Thus, it is barely possible to pick a suitable camera without looking at these specs.

Are Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Sony Alpha A7 III any different in terms of sensor type?

In fact, that's exactly what makes these two models really different. Thus, it is a good point to consider if your are choosing between these two cameras. Olympus OM-D E-M5 II features a 16.0 MP Four Thirds sized CMOS sensor and boasts of a TruePic VII processor . Sony Alpha A7 III, in its turn, comes with a 24.0 MP Full frame sized BSI-CMOS sensor and Bionz X processor , which makes it significantly different from the first model.

Take a look below to find the comparison of Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Sony Alpha A7 III by the size of their sensors.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
Sony Alpha A7 III
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One more distinctive feature of compared models is the sensor size. Sony Alpha A7 III is equipped with a sensor that is 0.3x larger than the one featured in Olympus OM-D E-M5 II. Compared to the cameras with smaller sensor area, the ones with larger sensors ensure more control on the blurry background and depth of field if you shoot in the same aperture and focal length. Thus, the first model has a significant advantage here.

For Which Fields Of Photography Are Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Sony Alpha A7 III Suitable?

If you are interested in photography or has made a career in this field, you should know that different types of shooting actually require different camera characteristics. While one model can produce outstanding portraits, at the same time, it can be terrible for shooting landscapes, and so on. Thus, before you purchase a specific camera, it is vital to decide, which type of shooting you do most often and consider an option that suits it the most.

This section of our comparison is devoted to the performance of Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Sony Alpha A7 III in different fields of photography. Here we are going to look at the five main areas and evaluate how well each of the reviewed models performs in them. This will help you choose an option that suits your needs the most depending on your interest in one or several of these fields.

Photography Type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Sony Alpha A7 III
Portrait Photography
70%
98%
Street Photography
100%
95%
Sports Photography
94%
99%
Daily Photography
93%
69%
Landscape Photography
85%
99%

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II for Portrait Photography

Advantages:

  • Fast Max Shutter Speed (1/16000s)
  • Image Stabilization
  • Face Detection Focusing

Disadvantages:

  • Small Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor

Sony Alpha A7 III for Portrait Photography

Advantages:

  • Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
  • High resolution sensor (24 MP)
  • Fast Max Shutter Speed (1/8000s)
  • Image Stabilization
  • Face Detection Focusing

Disadvantages:

No Significant Disadvantages

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II for Street Photography

Advantages:

  • Built-in View Finder
  • Live View
  • Fully Articulated Screen
  • Image Stabilization
  • Large Four Thirds(17.3 x 13 mm) sensor

Disadvantages:

  • Big size (124 x 85 x 45 mm)

Sony Alpha A7 III for Street Photography

Advantages:

  • Built-in View Finder
  • Live View
  • Image Stabilization
  • Large Full frame(35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor

Disadvantages:

  • Big size (127 x 96 x 74 mm)

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II for Sports Photography

Advantages:

  • Environmental Sealing
  • Fast Max Shutter Speed (1/16000s)
  • Big Number of autofocus Points (81)

Disadvantages:

  • Slow Continuous Shooting (10.0 fps)
  • Bad Low Light ISO (896)
  • Small battery life (310 shots)

Sony Alpha A7 III for Sports Photography

Advantages:

  • Environmental Sealing
  • Fast Max Shutter Speed (1/8000s)
  • Big Number of autofocus Points (693)
  • Nice Low Light ISO (3730)
  • Big size (127 x 96 x 74 mm)

Disadvantages:

  • Slow Continuous Shooting (10.0 fps)
  • Small battery life (610 shots)

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II for Daily Photography

Advantages:

  • Built-in View Finder
  • Live View
  • Wireless Connectivity
  • Video is available

Disadvantages:

  • Small Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
  • Big weight (469 g)
  • Big size (124 x 85 x 45 mm)
  • No Built-in Flash

Sony Alpha A7 III for Daily Photography

Advantages:

  • Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
  • Built-in View Finder
  • Live View
  • Wireless Connectivity
  • Video is available

Disadvantages:

  • Big weight (650 g)
  • Big size (127 x 96 x 74 mm)
  • No Built-in Flash

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II for Landscape Photography

Advantages:

  • Good Dynamic Range (12.4)
  • Environmental Sealing
  • Live View
  • RAW Support

Disadvantages:

  • Small Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
  • Low resolution sensor (16 MP)
  • Bad Low Light ISO (896)

Sony Alpha A7 III for Landscape Photography

Advantages:

  • Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
  • High resolution sensor (24 MP)
  • Good Dynamic Range (14.7)
  • Environmental Sealing
  • Live View
  • RAW Support
  • Nice Low Light ISO (3730)

Disadvantages:

No Significant Disadvantages

Comparison of Olympus OM-D E-M5 II vs Sony Alpha A7 III: Final Verdict

Hopefully, our detailed overview of these models has helped you consider all the main specs, pros and cons of each cameras. Maybe, after reading this comparison, some of you have already decided which option to opt for depending on your needs and preferences. However, if you are still wondering which option is a better choice, Olympus OM-D E-M5 II or Sony Alpha A7 III, below you can see what scores each of them received in five different aspects. To wrap up, we have used our unique Decision Algorithm that assesses different camera models upon 63 different factors including their price, and, if possible, DxO Mark scores. This algorithm allows us to make our verdict more consistent and objective.

What is our final verdict? Based on our comparison and the final scores of Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Sony Alpha A7 III here is what we can say in conclusion:

According all the factors that we considered in the process of comparing these two cameras, Sony Alpha A7 III deserves a higher Total Score than the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II. Thus, if you are choosing between these options, we would recommend you to choose the first model over the other one.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II vs Sony Alpha A7 III Table Of Technical Specs

For better understanding of each model’s technical characteristics, find the detailed comparison below:

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Sony Alpha A7 III
General
Brand Olympus Sony
Model OM-D E-M5 II Alpha A7 III
Announced Feb 06, 2015 Feb 27, 2018
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Sensor Type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor Size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor Dimensions 17.3 x 13 mm 35.8 x 23.8 mm
Sensor Area 224.90 mm2 852.04 mm2
Sensor Resolution 16.0 MP 24.0 MP
Max Image Resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max Native ISO 25,600 51,200
Max Boosted ISO n/a 204,800
Min Native ISO 200 100
RAW Support Yes Yes
Lens
Manual Focus Yes Yes
Lens Mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of Lenses 94 83
Focal Length Multiplier 2x 1x
Macro Focus Range
AutoFocus
AF Touch Yes Yes
AF Continuous Yes Yes
AF Single Yes Yes
AF Tracking Yes Yes
AF Selective Yes Yes
AF Center Yes Yes
AF Multi Area Yes Yes
AF Live View Yes Yes
AF Face Detection Yes Yes
AF Contrast Detection Yes Yes
AF Phase Detection No Yes
Number of Focus Points 81 693
Number of Cross Focus Points n/a n/a
Screen
Screen Type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen Size 3″ 3″
Screen Resolution 1,037k dots 922k dots
Live View Yes Yes
Touch Screen Yes Yes
ViewFinder
ViewFinder Electronic Electronic
ViewFinder Resolution 2,360k dots 2,359k dots
ViewFinder Coverage 100% 100%
ViewFinder Magnification 0.74 0.78
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed 60 s 30 s
Max Shutter Speed 1/16000 s 1/8000 s
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 10.0 fps
Shutter Priority Yes Yes
Aperture Priority Yes Yes
Manual Exposure Mode Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation Yes Yes
Custom White Balance Yes Yes
Image Stabilization Yes Yes
Built-in Flash No No
Flash Range 0 0
Flash Modes Auto, redeye, fill, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual no built-in flash
External Flash Yes Yes
AE Bracketing Yes Yes
WB Bracketing Yes Yes
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment Yes Yes
Average No Yes
Spot Yes Yes
Partial No No
AF-Area No No
Center Weighted Yes No
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Sensor Score 73 96
DxO Color Depth 23.0 25.0
DxO Dynamic Range 12.4 14.7
DxO Low Light ISO 896 3730
Video Features
Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (120p, 60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264
Microphone Port Yes Yes
Headphone Port No Yes
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Yes Yes
HDMI Yes Yes
USB USB 2.0 USB 1
Physical
Environmental Sealing Yes Yes
Water Proof No No
Dust Proof No No
Shock Proof No No
Crush Proof No No
Freeze Proof No No
Weight 469 g 650 g
Physical Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45 mm 127 x 96 x 74 mm
Battery Life 310 shots 610 shots
Battery Type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery Model BLN-1 NP-FZ100
Other Features
Self Timer Yes Yes
Timelapse Recording Yes Yes
GPS
Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage Slots 1 2

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