Sony A5100 vs Olympus E-M10 III

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony A5100 vs Olympus E-M10 III

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A5100 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A5100 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A5100.
Compare Sony A5100 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A5100 conclusion.

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

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-M10 III Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus E-M10 III in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the E-M10 III.
Compare Olympus E-M10 III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus E-M10 III conclusion.

Buy From

Differences

Sony A5100 advantages over Olympus E-M10 III

Less expensive
$448 vs $799
Save money for lenses or accessories
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

400 vs 330 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
35 mm vs 49 mm
Thinner
More pixels
24.3 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Wider angle kit lens
24 mm vs 28 mm
Capture more of the scene with the included lens

Olympus E-M10 III advantages over Sony A5100

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
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
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Fast startup
~1.00 vs 2.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher max flash sync
1/250 vs 1/160 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
7 years vs 10 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Higher-res screen
346k vs 230k 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 0.23 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
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
8.6 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 67 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.6 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in 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

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
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
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 A5100 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A5100

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Black)
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (White)

All A5100 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Olympus E-M10 III

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Body Only (Silver)
Kit with 14-42mm EZ lens (Black)
Kit with 14-42mm EZ lens (Silver)

All E-M10 III Deals

Review Excerpt

Very small and comfortable form factor; Very good image quality for its class; New dual video record function; Quick autofocus and good dynamic range.
Lacks an EVF and external mode dial; No hot shoe; JPEG processing at higher ISOs not as good as some competing mid-level models.
Read our Sony A5100 Review

Superbly-built, comfortable and compact body; Pairs beautifully with pancake kit lens; Excellent image quality; Excellent performance in most respects; Great single-shot autofocus; Really nice viewfinder and touch-screen display; Friendlier user interface courts amateurs.
Some controls are a bit small and tightly-packed; Hand grips are still a bit modestly-sized for larger lenses; Continuous and video autofocus just isn't up to snuff; New user interface can feel limiting to advanced photographers; Underwhelming battery life.
Read our Olympus E-M10 III Review

The Competition

Compared to Samsung NX1100

Sony A5100

Samsung NX1100

$348
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$450
APS-C

Higher-res screen
Hot shoe

Compare Sony A5100 vs Samsung NX1100

Olympus E-M10 III

Samsung NX1100

$549
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$450
APS-C

Larger sensor
Thinner

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Samsung NX1100

Compared to Sony NEX-5T

Sony A5100

Sony NEX-5T

$348
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Longer stills battery life

$299
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Higher-res screen

Compare Sony A5100 vs Sony NEX-5T

Olympus E-M10 III

Sony NEX-5T

$549
4/3

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

$299
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony NEX-5T

Compared to Sony A5000

Sony A5100

Sony A5000

$348
APS-C

Touchscreen
Higher effective ISO

$298
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Sony A5100 vs Sony A5000

Olympus E-M10 III

Sony A5000

$549
4/3

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

$298
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony A5000

Compared to Olympus E-M10 II

Sony A5100

Olympus E-M10 II

$348
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$349
4/3

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony A5100 vs Olympus E-M10 II

Olympus E-M10 III

Olympus E-M10 II

$549
4/3

Shoot 4K video
Bigger JPEG buffer

$349
4/3

Less expensive

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Olympus E-M10 II

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Sony A5100

Panasonic GX85

$348
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$598
4/3

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony A5100 vs Panasonic GX85

Olympus E-M10 III

Panasonic GX85

$549
4/3

More telephoto lens reach
Higher max flash sync

$598
4/3

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic GX85

Compare Other Cameras?