Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIvs A7R III
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
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R 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.
Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography — A7R III (2017): The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
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
A7R III (2017)
- Landscape and studio photographers who need 42MP resolution at a used-price discount vs A7R IV
- Canon/Nikon DSLR professionals considering a mirrorless switch at a lower investment
- Commercial and product photographers who want full-frame resolution with IBIS for handheld work
- Portrait photographers who want the sharpest possible full-frame files for large print work
Quick take: The a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; 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) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | 390 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 414g body only | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| 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" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | — | |
| Street | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Camera family history