• 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 24.6 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
  • Olympus OM-D E-M5
Links
Prices:    
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor:   Olympus E-M5 II
E-M5 vs E-M5 II
General
Model Number: A850 E-M5
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Pro SLR Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $1999.95 $1299.99
Street Price: $2,219.00 $899.95
Date Available: 2009-10-08 2012-04-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 30.0 oz (850 g) 23.0 oz (652 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 6.2 x 4.6 x 3.2 in.
(156 x 117 x 82 mm)
4.8 x 3.5 x 1.7 in.
(122 x 89 x 43 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS Live MOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony Sony
Effective Megapixels: 24.6 16.1
Sensor Format: 35mm 4/3
Sensor size: 861.6mm2 (35.90mm x 24.00mm) 224.9mm2 (17.30mm x 13.00mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.94 microns 3.75 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.0x 2.0x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2, 16:9 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Fixed
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 79 71
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 23.8 22.8
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 12.2 12.3
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 1,415 826
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 6048 x 4032 (24.4 MP, 3:2),
6048 x 3408 (20.6 MP, Other),
4400 x 2936 (12.9 MP, 3:2),
4400 x 2472 (10.9 MP, 16:9),
3984 x 2656 (10.6 MP, 3:2),
3024 x 2016 (6.1 MP, 3:2),
2896 x 1928 (5.6 MP, 3:2),
3024 x 1704 (5.2 MP, Other),
1984 x 1320 (2.6 MP, 3:2)
4608 x 3456 (15.9 MP, 4:3),
2560 x 1920 (4.9 MP, 4:3),
1024 x 768 (0.8 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.21), RAW, cRAW, RAW+JPEG; (ARW 2.0) JPEG, MPO, 12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 3.0 8.9
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (60i)
1280x720 (60p/​30p)
640x480 (30p)
Movie File Format:   MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with stereo sound), AVI (Motion JPEG)
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No No
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Sony Alpha (Minolta A) Micro Four Thirds
Lens: n/a Olympus M.Zuiko 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ Digital ED
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):   24 - 100mm
Focal Length (actual):   12 - 50mm
Zoom Ratio:   4.20x
Aperture Range:   f/3.5 - 22 (wide) / f/6.3 - 22 (tele)
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:   35 cm to Infinity
13.8 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:   20 - 50 cm
7.9 - 19.7 in
Filter Thread: n/a 52.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: No Yes
Digital Zoom Values: n/a Up to 2x
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 9-point TTL phase detection with 10 assist points, center dual-cross at f/2.8. High-speed Contrast-detect AF: 35-area multiple AF / All target, Group target area (9-area), Single target
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD (playback only) EVF / OLED
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentaprism with 98% coverage, 0.74x mag., 20mm eyepoint, -3 to +1 diopter EVF; 1.44M-dot, 1.15x magnification, 18mm eyepoint, -4 to +2 diopter, eye sensor
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a 1,440,000 dots
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.74x 0.58x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.74x 1.15x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 921,600 dots 614,000 dots (205,000 px)
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 19.0x  
Top Deck Display: Yes No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 3200 25600
Minimum ISO (native): 200 200
ISO Settings: Auto, 200-3200, Extensions to 100 and 6400 AUTO: ISO Low (100) - 25600 (customizable, Default 200-1600) / Manual ISO Low (100) - 25600, 1/3 or 1 EV steps selectable
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash, Color Temperature from 2,500K to 9,900K, Custom (3) Auto, Lamp, Fluorescent, Daylight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Custom WB, One-touch WB
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/4000 - 60 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 40-segment Honeycomb Pattern, Center-weighted, Spot 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:   Scene select AE (Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Sport, Night, Night + Portrait, Children, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Documents, Panorama, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Fisheye Conv., Wide Conv., Macro Conv., 3D Still), Art Filter, Underwater wide / macro
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2, 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: No No
Flash Modes: n/a 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): n/a 7.0 m / 23.0 ft.
Flash Range Description: n/a Bundled FL-LM2 GN = 7m/ISO 100
Max Flash Sync: 1/250 1/250
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot shoe, PC-sync Hot Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: CF1 / CF2 / MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / Microdrive SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: Yes No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW, cRAW, RAW+JPEG; (ARW 2.0) 12-bit RAW, 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 No
NFC: No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional wired or wireless Optional Remote cable RM-UC1
Connections (extended): DC input, Multi-connector, Sync termimal, Remote terminal, HDMI Type-C minijack Micro HDMI (Type-D), combined AV/USB connector, Accessory Port 2
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.40 0.52
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.50 0.51
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 23 20
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   0.56
Camera penalizes early shutter press? Yes No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 3.0 8.9
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 23 17
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   9.0
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   16
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   9.0
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   15
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.18 seconds 0.28 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.154 seconds 0.102 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):   0.44 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.074 seconds 0.056 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):   Full Autofocus, Multi-area AF mode lag = 0.175 second
Startup Time: 0.5 seconds 1.1 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.3 seconds 0.7 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:   4.3 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   360 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 880 shots  
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary Proprietary BLN-1
Usable Battery Types: NP-FM500H Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NP-FM500H Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary BLN-1 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No
Software
Included Software: Image Data Converter SR, Image Data Lightbox SR, Remote Camera Control (all Windows & Macintosh), Picture Motion Browser (Windows only). Olympus Viewer 2 CD-ROM
OS Compatibility: Windows 2000Pro/XP/Vista; Mac OS X (v 10.1.3+)  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Cost reduced Sony A900. Smaller viewfinder (98% vs 100%), slower burst mode (3 fps vs 5), wireless remote not included. 3" tilting OLED monitor with Touchscreen panel, Hi-res EVF, 5-axis image stabilization, 9 fps burst, Full HD video.