Sony A5000 vs Olympus PEN-F

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony A5000 vs Olympus PEN-F

APS-C 357.3mm²
20.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A5000 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the A5000.

4/3 226.2mm²
20.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus PEN-F Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus PEN-F in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the PEN-F.
Compare Olympus PEN-F image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus PEN-F conclusion.

Buy From

Differences

Sony A5000 advantages over Olympus PEN-F

Less expensive
$298 vs $999*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.25 vs 3.36 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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.
A5000 test data on DxO Mark PEN-F test data on DxO Mark

1,089 vs 894 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

420 vs 330 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos

Olympus PEN-F advantages over Sony A5000

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Higher max flash sync
1/250 vs 1/160 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Higher-res screen
346k vs 154k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Less shutter lag
0.14 vs 0.30 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
10.4 fps vs 3.3 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
43 vs 15 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.5 fps vs 2.5 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
39 vs 9 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 16000 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-camera panoramas
Both provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
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

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

Amazon
Adorama
Read A5000 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read PEN-F User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A5000

Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Black)

Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Black)
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Silver)
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (White)

All A5000 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Olympus PEN-F

Body Only (Silver)

Body Only (Silver)
Body Only (Black)

All PEN-F Deals

Review Excerpt

We haven’t reviewed the Sony A5000.
Read our Sony A5000 Initial Test

Highest resolution Olympus 4/3" camera yet; Excellent image quality for its class; Very good dynamic range; Fast autofocus; Fast burst speeds; Lots of fun creative filter options; Built-in EVF, Wi-Fi.
Expensive; No weather sealing; Mediocre battery life; No 4K video; No mic or headphone jacks.
Read our Olympus PEN-F Review

The Competition

Compared to Samsung NX1100

Sony A5000

Samsung NX1100

$298
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$450
APS-C

Higher-res screen
Hot shoe

Compare Sony A5000 vs Samsung NX1100

Olympus PEN-F

Samsung NX1100

$999
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

$450
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Samsung NX1100

Compared to Sony NEX-5T

Sony A5000

Sony NEX-5T

$298
APS-C

Longer stills battery life
Internal flash

$299
APS-C

Touchscreen
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Sony A5000 vs Sony NEX-5T

Olympus PEN-F

Sony NEX-5T

$999
4/3

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$299
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Sony NEX-5T

Compared to Sony A5100

Sony A5000

Sony A5100

$298
APS-C

Less expensive

$348
APS-C

Touchscreen
Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony A5000 vs Sony A5100

Olympus PEN-F

Sony A5100

$999
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

$348
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Sony A5100

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Sony A5000

Panasonic GX85

$298
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$598
4/3

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony A5000 vs Panasonic GX85

Olympus PEN-F

Panasonic GX85

$999
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
High resolution composite

$598
4/3

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GX85

Compared to Olympus E-PL8

Sony A5000

Olympus E-PL8

$298
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-camera panoramas

$599
4/3

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A5000 vs Olympus E-PL8

Olympus PEN-F

Olympus E-PL8

$999
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$599
4/3

Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus E-PL8

Compare Other Cameras?