OM-D E-M10 IVvs A9
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel & Everyday — OM-D E-M10 IV (2020): Compact Micro Four Thirds body with built-in IBIS — ideal for travellers who want stability without bulk.
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
OM-D E-M10 IV (2020)
- Beginners and enthusiasts who want a compact, stylish Micro Four Thirds camera
- Travellers who want a small, light system without sacrificing image quality
- Smartphone upgraders who want a proper camera that still fits in a bag
- Anyone who wants built-in selfie capability in a traditional camera body
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 om-d e-m10 iv is the most affordable; only the a9 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | OM-D E-M10 IV (2020) | A9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £469 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 20.3MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 20.3MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect + contrast detect, 121 points | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 15fps | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~360 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 383g body only | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 121.4 × 83.6 × 49.0mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.46× magnification | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, micro HDMI | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | OM-D E-M10 IV | A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with OM-D E-M10 IV
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