Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIvs A1 II
OM System
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
Starting from £699 new
Best for Travel & lightweight outdoor photography
View Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Sony
A1 II (2025)
Starting from £6500 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
View A1 II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel & Lightweight Outdoor Photography — Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019): The lightest weather-sealed MFT camera — compact, travel-friendly, and capable with 7.5-stop IBIS in a body that fits in a jacket pocket.
Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work — A1 II (2025): The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
Who should buy what
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
- Travel photographers who want a compact, weather-sealed MFT body
- Outdoor photographers upgrading from the E-M10 who want better sealing
- Enthusiasts who want strong IBIS in a lightweight, portable system
- Photographers who want a capable travel camera that won't weigh them down
A1 II (2025)
- Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
- Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
- Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
- Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
Quick take: The a1 ii has the highest resolution at 50mp; the olympus om-d e-m5 iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019) | A1 II (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £6,500 |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/240p super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | 390 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 414g body only | 743g body only |
| Dimensions | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III | A1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
More comparisons with Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Camera family history