• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 20.2 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 70.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Olympus E-M5 advantages over Sony RX100 III

  • Larger sensor
    4/3 vs 1 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 3.75 vs 2.41 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Fast startup
    ~1.10 vs 2.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Higher effective ISO
    826 vs 495 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster RAW shooting
    9.0 fps vs 6.7 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony RX100 III advantages over Olympus E-M5

  • Less expensive
    $748* vs $900
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • 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
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/2000 vs 1/250 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • 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
  • Less shutter lag
    0.15 vs 0.28 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    20.2 vs 16.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    10.0 fps vs 8.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    48 vs 17 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    26 vs 16 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • 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
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • 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

User reviews

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Buy the Olympus E-M5
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  • Body Only
  • Kit with 14-42mm Lens
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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony RX100 III
Sony RX100 Mark III
All RX100 III Deals

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

  • Pocket-friendly design; Popup electronic viewfinder; Bright lens across the zoom range; Great performance with very fast autofocus; Very high resolution gives lots of detail in good light; High ISO noise levels much better than most pocket camera rivals; Wi-Fi wireless networking

  • Feels a little unbalanced without an accessory grip; Not as much telephoto reach as its siblings; Noise processing is heavier-handed than in earlier models; Quite pricey for a fixed-lens camera

  • Read our Sony RX100 III Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony RX100

Olympus E-M5
Sony RX100
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $1095
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100

Sony RX100 III
Sony RX100
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $1095
  • 1 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Faster RAW shooting

Compare Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100

Compared to Sony RX100 II

Olympus E-M5
Sony RX100 II
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $598
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Sony RX100 II

Sony RX100 III
Sony RX100 II
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Fast startup
  • $598
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 II

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 RX100 III
Olympus E-M1
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • NFC
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 III vs Olympus E-M1

Compared to Canon G7X

Olympus E-M5
Canon G7X
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $1239
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Canon G7X

Sony RX100 III
Canon G7X
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $1239
  • 1 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Sony RX100 III vs Canon G7X

Compared to Panasonic LX100

Olympus E-M5
Panasonic LX100
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic LX100

Sony RX100 III
Panasonic LX100
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Internal flash
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor

Compare Sony RX100 III vs Panasonic LX100

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