• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Olympus E-5 advantages over Sony A77 II

  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 870 vs 480 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Sony A77 II advantages over Olympus E-5

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • More cross-type AF points
    15 vs 11
    Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    1230k vs 921k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.73x vs 0.58x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    24.3 vs 12.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • More AF points
    79 vs 11
    More AF points improve autofocus
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.5 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Top deck display
    Both provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Buy the Olympus E-5

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Buy the Sony A77 II
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  • Body Only
  • Kit with 16-50mm Lens
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Review Excerpt

  • Excellent image quality, especially lower ISOs; Improved high ISO performance when using RAW; Very good dynamic range; High-resolution images; Very fast single-shot autofocus; 12fps burst mode with C-AF; Good value for its class.

  • Lackluster continuous AF performance; Strong NR processing in high ISO JPEGs; Sluggish buffer clearing; Short battery life compared to most DSLRs; Joystick control easy to press accidentally.

  • Read our Sony A77 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 50D

Olympus E-5
Canon 50D
  • $1700
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $1000
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-5 vs Canon 50D

Sony A77 II
Canon 50D
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
  • $1000
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 50D

Compared to Olympus E30

Olympus E-5
Olympus E30
  • $1700
  • 4/3
  • Longer stills battery life
  • HDMI out
  • $1299
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Lighter weight

Compare Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E30

Sony A77 II
Olympus E30
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $1299
  • 4/3
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Longer exposure

Compare Sony A77 II vs Olympus E30

Compared to Sony DSLR-A550

Olympus E-5
Sony DSLR-A550
  • $1700
  • 4/3
  • Top deck display
  • More cross-type AF points
  • $859
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-5 vs Sony DSLR-A550

Sony A77 II
Sony DSLR-A550
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
  • $859
  • APS-C
  • Bigger pixels
  • Fast startup

Compare Sony A77 II vs Sony DSLR-A550

Compared to Canon 7D Mark II

Olympus E-5
Canon 7D Mark II
  • $1700
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $1597
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-5 vs Canon 7D Mark II

Sony A77 II
Canon 7D Mark II
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $1597
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 7D Mark II

Compared to Nikon D7200

Olympus E-5
Nikon D7200
  • $1700
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $1016
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-5 vs Nikon D7200

Sony A77 II
Nikon D7200
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
  • $1016
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 II vs Nikon D7200

Compare Other Cameras?