Olympus E-M5 vs Sony SLT-A55

differences

Advantages of the Olympus E-M5

Has an OLED screen

OLED

LCD

OLED screens are often brighter and more vibrant than typical LCD screens

Weather sealed

Yes

Sealed to shoot in the rain

Has a touch screen

Yes

Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus

Smaller

122x89x43 mm

124x92x85 mm

2.1x smaller

Better maximum light sensitivity

25,600 ISO

12,800 ISO

The E-M5's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better

Longer battery life

500 shots

330 shots

More than 50% more shots per battery charge

Significantly thinner

1.7"

3.3"

Around 50% thinner

More focus points

Set focus accurately within the frame

Lighter

425 g

500 g

Around 20% lighter

Longer exposures

60s

30s

2x longer exposures

Slightly cheaper

$924.00

$1,098.34

The best price we've seen is $174 cheaper (around 20% less)

Learn more about
the Olympus E-M5

Advantages of the Sony SLT-A55

Faster autofocus

Phase detection

Contrast detection

Catch candid moments easily

Has an external mic jack

Yes

Record high quality audio with an external microphone

Faster video autofocus

Phase detection

Contrast detection

Shoot videos without worrying about focus

Higher resolution screen

921k dots

610k dots

More than 50% higher resolution screen

Has in-camera HDR

Yes

Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range

Continuous video focus

Yes

Record movies without worrying about focus

Has a GPS

Yes

Automatically geotags your photos when traveling

More lenses available

92 lenses

26 lenses

More than 3.5x more lenses available

Larger sensor

APS-C 23.5x15.6mm

Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm

More than 60% larger sensor

Built-in flash

Yes

A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light

Slightly better image quality

73.0

71.0

Almost the same

Slightly less startup delay

900 ms

1100 ms

Around 20% less delay when turning on

Shoots slightly faster

10 fps

9 fps

More than 10% faster continuous shooting

Slightly less shutter lag

220 ms

277 ms

More than 20% less delay when taking photos

Learn more about
the Sony SLT-A55

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus OM-D E-M5

53	vs	52
Explain scores

Sony SLT-A55

Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a mirrorless interchangeable-lens with a entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

	Flip-out screens
	Great for movies

	3D photos
	View photos in 3D on 3D televisions

Capture very high resolution images

E-M5:	15.9 MP
SLT-A55:	16 MP

	Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these
	Many lenses to choose from

Very good maximum light sensitivity

E-M5:	25,600 ISO
SLT-A55:	12,800 ISO

Good color depth

E-M5:	22.8 bits
SLT-A55:	23 bits

	In-camera panoramas
	Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama

Good dynamic range

E-M5:	12.3 EV
SLT-A55:	12.4 EV

	Supports RAW
	Better editing

Large sensors

E-M5:	Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
SLT-A55:	APS-C 23.5x15.6mm

	Both have self cleaning sensors, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these
	Avoids dust in your photos

	Support external flash
	Better lighting

	Both have digital viewfinders
	Digital

	Better sensor types
	Better in low light

	Fast max shutter speeds
	1/4000 of a second

Heavy

E-M5:	425 g
SLT-A55:	500 g

competitors

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $805 with 18-55mm lens

Records movies in 24p

Is slightly less noisy at high ISO

Is thicker

Is slightly heavier

Compare the D5100 vs the OM-D E-M5

Compare the D5100 vs the SLT-A55

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$595 - $599 with 18-55mm lens

Records movies in 24p

Slightly larger viewfinder

Is thicker

Is slightly heavier

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the OM-D E-M5

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the SLT-A55

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$649 - $968 body only

$949 - $1,182 with 18-135mm lens

Records movies in 24p

Has slightly less startup delay

Is thicker

Is significantly heavier

Compare the EOS 60D vs the OM-D E-M5

Compare the EOS 60D vs the SLT-A55

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens

Has slightly better image quality

Takes significantly higher resolution photos

Is thicker

Is slightly heavier

Compare the D5200 vs the OM-D E-M5

Compare the D5200 vs the SLT-A55

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens

Records movies in 24p

Has slightly less startup delay

Is thicker

Is significantly heavier

Compare the D7000 vs the OM-D E-M5

Compare the D7000 vs the SLT-A55

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,299 - $1,725 body only

$1,499 with 28-135mm lens

Records movies in 24p

Has slightly less startup delay

Is thicker

Is much heavier

Compare the EOS 7D vs the OM-D E-M5

Compare the EOS 7D vs the SLT-A55

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR

$479 - $690 body only

$547 - $780 with 18-55mm lens

Records movies in 24p

Slightly larger viewfinder

Is thicker

Is slightly heavier

Compare the K-30 vs the OM-D E-M5

Compare the K-30 vs the SLT-A55

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens

Has an external mic jack

Supports 24p

Doesn't have an OLED screen

No weather sealing

Compare the NEX-7 vs the OM-D E-M5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$768 with 14-42mm lens

Smaller

Less startup delay

Doesn't have an OLED screen

No weather sealing

Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the OM-D E-M5

Fujifilm X-E1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$799 - $1,000 body only

$1,199 with 18-55mm lens

Has an external mic jack

Supports 24p

Doesn't have an OLED screen

No weather sealing

Compare the X-E1 vs the OM-D E-M5

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$648 body only

$798 with 16-50mm lens

Faster autofocus

Supports 24p

Doesn't have an OLED screen

No weather sealing

Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the OM-D E-M5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,298 body only

$2,599 with 12-35mm lens

Has an external mic jack

Supports 24p

Significantly larger

Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching

Compare the Lumix DMC-GH3 vs the OM-D E-M5

Sony SLT A57

Entry-level DSLR

$548 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p

Longer battery life

No built-in GPS

Slightly larger

Compare the SLT A57 vs the SLT-A55

Sony SLT-A37

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p

Better maximum light sensitivity

Much lower resolution screen

Much smaller screen

Compare the SLT-A37 vs the SLT-A55

Sony SLT A65

Entry-level DSLR

$587 - $648 body only

$748 - $1,005 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p

Much higher true resolution

Much more startup delay

Slightly larger

Compare the SLT A65 vs the SLT-A55

Sony SLT A58

Entry-level DSLR

$548 - $598 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p

Significantly longer battery life

Significantly lower resolution screen

Significantly smaller screen

Compare the SLT A58 vs the SLT-A55

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $779 with 18-55mm lens

Much longer battery life

Better image quality

No built-in GPS

Larger

Compare the Alpha DSLR-A580 vs the SLT-A55

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Olympus OM-D E-M5

vs

Sony SLT-A55

Reasons to buy the Olympus OM-D E-M5

Reasons to buy the Sony SLT-A55

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Olympus E-M5

Advantages of the Sony SLT-A55

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

dxomark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon EOS 60D

Nikon D5200

Nikon D7000

Canon EOS 7D

Pentax K-30

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-7

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Fujifilm X-E1

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3

Sony SLT-A55 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony SLT A57

Sony SLT-A37

Sony SLT A65

Sony SLT A58

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

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discussion

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