Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIvs A7 IV
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.
Portrait & Wedding Photography — A7 IV (2021): The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid 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
A7 IV (2021)
- Working photographers who want a reliable full-frame all-rounder
- Portrait, wedding, and event photographers needing 33MP and fast AF
- A7 III owners ready for a major upgrade in resolution, AF, and video
- Hybrid shooters who want 4K/60p and 33MP stills in one dependable body
Quick take: The a7 iv has the highest resolution at 33mp; 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) | A7 IV (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £2,299 |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | 390 shots (CIPA) | ~580 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 414g body only | 659g body only |
| Dimensions | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III | A7 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Studio Portraits | — | |
| Outdoor Portraits | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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