Sony DSLR-A580 vs Olympus E-M5

Sony DSLR-A580 advantages over Olympus E-M5

• Less expensive
  $900 vs $1300 (MSRP)
  Save money for lenses or accessories
• 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
• Fast startup
  ~0.80 vs 1.1 sec
  Faster startup lets you catch the moment
• Higher effective ISO

  Higher effective ISO

  Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

  Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

  You can learn more at our glossary entry.

  Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.

  DSLR-A580 test data on DxO Mark E-M5 test data on DxO Mark
  1,123 vs 826 iso
  Take photos in low light with less noise
• Longer stills battery life
  More info

  Longer stills battery life

  Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

  Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

  1050 vs 360 shots
  Capture more photos
• Internal flash
  Internal flash vs None
  Useful in a pinch for fill flash
• More dots on screen
  922k vs 614k dots
  Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
• Bigger JPEG buffer
  32 vs 17 shots
  Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)