Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIvs A5100
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
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.
Casual & Travel — A5100 (2014): The A5100 is one of the smallest APS-C mirrorless cameras ever made. Its 24MP sensor, phase-detect AF, and selfie-friendly flip screen pack remarkable capability into a shirt-pocket-sized body. No EVF or hot shoe limits it for serious use, but as a compact travel camera or beginner's first mirrorless, it punches well above its price on the used market.
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
A5100 (2014)
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
Quick take: The a5100 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a5100 is the most affordable; only the olympus om-d e-m5 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019) | A5100 (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £200 |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS | None |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical | 6fps |
| Battery Life | 390 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 414g body only | 224g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots | None |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III | A5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Casual | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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