Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIvs A7R
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.
Studio, Tripod Landscape & Camera History — A7R (2013): The world's first 36MP full-frame mirrorless — a landmark camera that launched the A7R series, despite contrast-detect AF and significant shutter shock limitations.
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 (2013)
- Collectors and photographers interested in the camera that started the A7R lineage
- Studio photographers who work on a tripod and can manage contrast-detect AF
- Landscape photographers who prioritise resolution over autofocus performance
- Sony FE system users who want a historical body at a very low used price
Quick take: The a7r has the highest resolution at 36mp; the a7r 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) | A7R (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £349 |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | 36.4MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS | None |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical | 4fps |
| Battery Life | 390 shots (CIPA) | ~340 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 414g body only | 465g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III | A7R |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Architecture | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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