Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIvs A6500
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
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
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.
Travel, Street & Versatile Everyday Photography — A6500 (2016): The first Sony APS-C with IBIS — the A6500 added in-body stabilisation, touch AF, and a far deeper buffer to the A6300's already strong formula.
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
A6500 (2016)
- Travel photographers who want IBIS in a compact weather-sealed E-mount body
- A6300 owners who need the stabilisation or touch AF the A6300 lacked
- Street and documentary photographers who want a capable compact with weather sealing
- Sony E-mount shooters looking for a capable used body at an accessible price
Quick take: The a6500 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a6500 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £649 |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical | 11fps |
| Battery Life | 390 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 414g body only | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history