Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIvs A9
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
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
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.
Professional Sports, Wildlife & Action Photography — A9 (2017): The camera that changed professional photography — the A9's 20fps blackout-free burst and silent shutter proved mirrorless had definitively surpassed the DSLR.
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
A9 (2017)
- Sports photographers who want the original 20fps mirrorless at a lower used price than the A9 II
- Wildlife photographers who need blackout-free burst with fast, reliable tracking
- Sony FE system users who want a professional sports body
- Photographers interested in the camera that changed the industry
Quick take: The a9 has the highest resolution at 24mp; 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) | A9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | 390 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 414g body only | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III | A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
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