• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000

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Differences

Olympus E-M5 advantages over Sony A57

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • More telephoto lens reach
    100 mm vs 83 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Thinner
    43 mm vs 80 mm
    Thinner
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/250 vs 1/160 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 27 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Sony A57 advantages over Olympus E-M5

  • 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.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 4.82 vs 3.75 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 550 vs 360 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Higher-res screen
    307k vs 205k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.69x vs 0.58x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    10.0 fps vs 8.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

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
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • 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

  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • 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
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • 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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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Olympus E-M5
Body Only
  • Body Only
  • Kit with 14-42mm Lens
All E-M5 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A57

Review Excerpt

  • Attractive body design; Well-built, weather-sealed body; Excellent image quality; Excellent image stabilization; Very fast autofocus.

  • Exposure compensation dial changes easily; Small buttons; No in-camera chromatic aberration correction; Bundled flash is weak; Video compression artifacts with rapidly-moving subjects.

  • Read our Olympus E-M5 Review
  • We haven’t finished our review of the Sony A57, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
  • See our Sony A57 First Shots

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-M1

Olympus E-M5
Olympus E-M1
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Thinner
  • Shoots 60p video
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Fast startup

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-M1

Sony A57
Olympus E-M1
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Touchscreen

Compare Sony A57 vs Olympus E-M1

Compared to Nikon D5100

Olympus E-M5
Nikon D5100
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Touchscreen
  • $650
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Nikon D5100

Sony A57
Nikon D5100
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $650
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A57 vs Nikon D5100

Compared to Panasonic G3

Olympus E-M5
Panasonic G3
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Internal flash
  • More viewfinder magnification

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3

Sony A57
Panasonic G3
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Touchscreen

Compare Sony A57 vs Panasonic G3

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Olympus E-M5
Pentax K-5 IIs
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A57
Pentax K-5 IIs
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony A57 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Compared to Olympus E-P5

Olympus E-M5
Olympus E-P5
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P5

Sony A57
Olympus E-P5
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Less expensive
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Touchscreen

Compare Sony A57 vs Olympus E-P5

Compare Other Cameras?