• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 14.2 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 12,800
  • 4/3 226.2mm2
  • 20.4 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 6400
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
  • Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
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Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Olympus E-M5 II
E-M5 II vs E-M5 III
Successor:    
General
Model Number: DSLR-A550 E-M5 III
Alternate Model Number(s):   E-M5 Mark III
Camera Format: SLR Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $1049.99 $1199.99
Street Price: $859.40 $924.48
Date Available: 2009-10-08 2019-11-30
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 32.2 oz (912 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
14.6 oz (414 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.4 x 4.1 x 3.3 in.
(137 x 104 x 84 mm)
4.9 x 3.4 x 2.0 in.
(125 x 85 x 50 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS Live MOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony  
Effective Megapixels: 14.2 20.4
Sensor Format: APS-C 4/3
Sensor size: 369.72mm2 (23.7mm x 15.6mm) 226.2mm2 (17.40mm x 13.00mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.16 microns 3.36 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 2.0x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2, 16:9 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed None
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No Yes
DxO Sensor Score: 66  
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 21.9  
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 11.8  
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 807  
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4592 x 3056 (14.0 MP, 3:2),
4592 x 2576 (11.8 MP, 16:9),
3344 x 2224 (7.4 MP, 3:2),
3344 x 1872 (6.3 MP, Other),
2288 x 1520 (3.5 MP, Other),
2288 x 1280 (2.9 MP, Other)
5184 x 3888 (20.2 MP, 4:3),
3712 x 2784 (10.3 MP, 4:3),
2624 x 1968 (5.2 MP, 4:3),
1824 x 1368 (2.5 MP, 4:3),
1024 x 768 (0.8 MP, 4:3),
8160 x 6120 (49.9 MP, 4:3),
10368 x 7776 (80.6 MP, 4:3)
Image File Format: JPEG, RAW JPEG (EXIF 2.31), 12-bit lossless compressed RAW (.ORF), RAW + JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 6.7 30.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 4096x2160 (24p)
3840x2160 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (120p/​100p)
3840x2160 (5p)
1920x1080 (15p/​10p/​5p)
1280x720 (30p/​15p/​10p/​5p)
Movie File Format:   MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with stereo sound), AVI (Motion JPEG)
Composite Video Out: No No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: n/a n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Sony Alpha (Minolta A) Micro Four Thirds
Lens: Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT SAM n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 27 - 83mm  
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 55mm  
Zoom Ratio: 3.00x  
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - 22 (W), f/5.6 - ?? (T)  
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:    
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 55.0mm n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: No Yes
Digital Zoom Values: n/a 2x (3x in movie mode)
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 9-point TTL phase detection (one cross-type sensor) with eye-start AF; Wide, Spot, Local modes Advanced Dual FAST AF: Hybrid Phase-detect/Contrast-detect AF, 121 AF points, all cross-type; All target, group target (25, 9 or 5-area), single target (normal/small)
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD EVF / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.80x mag., 19mm eyepoint, -2.5 to +1.0 diopter EVF; 2.68M-dot OLED, 1.20x - 1.37x magnification, 100% coverage, 27mm eyepoint, -4 to +2 diopter, eye sensor
Focus Peaking: No Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a 2,360,000 dots
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.53x 0.68x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.80x 1.37x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 921,600 dots 1,037,000 dots (345,667 px)
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: Yes Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: Yes
Selfie Screen: Yes
Max Playback Zoom: 14.0x 14.0x
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 12800 6400
Minimum ISO (native): 200 200
ISO Settings: Auto (200-1600), 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800 AUTO ISO: LOW (approx. 64) - 6400 with customizable upper limit (200 - 6400); Manual ISO: Low (approx. 64) - 25600, 1/3 or 1 EV steps selectable
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom Auto, Sunny, Shadow, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Underwater, Flash, Custom WB (Kelvin), One-touch WB (4); WB Tuning: +/-7 steps along A-B / G-M axis
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 30 sec 1/32000 - 60 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 40-segment Multi Segment, Center-weighted, Spot; (1200 zone evaluative metering in Live View) Digital ESP metering (324-area multi pattern metering), Center weighted average metering, Spot metering, Spot metering with highlight control, Spot metering with shadow control
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, Sunset, Night Portrait/Night View Custom, Scene (Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape + Portrait, Night + Portrait, Children, Night Scape, Sport, Hand-held Starlight, Fireworks, Light trails, Sports, Panning, Landscape, Sunset, Beach & Snow, Backlight HDR, Candlelight, Silent, Macro, Nature Macro, Documents, Multi Focus Shot), Art Filter (Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Cross Process, Gentle Sepia, Dramatic Tone, Key Line, Water Color, Vintage, Partial Color, Bleach Bypass, Instant Film, Soft Focus Effect, Pin-Hole Effect, White Edge Effect, Frame Effect, Star Light Effect, Blur Effect, B&W Effect, Picture Tone, Shade Effect), Underwater Wide/Underwater Macro, HDR1/2, Live Bulb, Live Time, Live Composite, Focus Stacking
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2, 10, Custom seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):   Yes
High Resolution Composite: No 80.0 megapixels
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: Auto, Fill-flash, Rear sync, Wireless, High-Speed sync, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction: On/Off Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual 1/1 (FULL) - 1/64
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 12.0 m / 39.4 ft. 9.0 m / 29.5 ft.
Flash Range Description: Lens dependent Bundled FL-LM3 flash has GN of 9m/ISO 100
Max Flash Sync: 1/160 1/250
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot shoe Hot Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: Full TTL exposure No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-II
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW 12-bit lossless compressed RAW (.ORF), RAW + JPEG
Movie File Format:   MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with stereo sound), AVI (Motion JPEG)
Included Memory:   No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No
Bluetooth: No Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No Yes
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional Wireless or Wired Optional wired or via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
Connections (extended): DC input, mini-HDMI, Wired Remote Micro HDMI (Type-D), Micro-B USB 2.0, 3.5mm external mic jack, 2.5mm wired remote jack
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.41  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.41  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 19  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 6.7 30.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 15 26
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   30.0
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   23
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   30.0
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.18 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.178 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.22 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.074 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes): Quick AF Live View shutter lag: 0.188s  
Startup Time: 0.5 seconds  
Play -> Record Time: 0.4 seconds  
Flash cycle time, full power: 3.5 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   310 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 950 shots  
Battery Life, Video:   60 minutes
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary NP-FM500H Proprietary BLS-50
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NP-FM500H 1 x Proprietary BLS-50 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes
Internal Charging Supported: Yes
Software
Included Software: Software/USB Driver CD-ROM Olympus Workspace, Capture, Updater downloads
OS Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Mac OS X (v. 10.13+)  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Exmore CMOS Sensor, Variable-angle LCD, SteadyShot In-body Sensor-shift Image Stabilization, Live View, Auto HDR, D-Range Optimizer (Auto, Level 1-5), HDMI Output, 7 fps (AF/AE Locked).