OM-3vs A5100
OM System
OM-3 (2024)
Starting from £999 new
Best for Travel, outdoor & adventure photography
View OM-3
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel, Outdoor & Adventure Photography — OM-3 (2024): The ideal mid-range OM System camera — weather sealed, class-leading IBIS, and superb computational features in a compact body.
Casual & Travel — A5100 (2014): The A5100 is one of the smallest APS-C mirrorless cameras ever made. Its 24MP sensor, phase-detect AF, and selfie-friendly flip screen pack remarkable capability into a shirt-pocket-sized body. No EVF or hot shoe limits it for serious use, but as a compact travel camera or beginner's first mirrorless, it punches well above its price on the used market.
Who should buy what
OM-3 (2024)
- Outdoor and adventure photographers who need weather sealing and compact size
- Wildlife and bird photographers wanting improved AF over the OM-5
- Travel shooters who want a rugged, lightweight MFT system
- OM-5 or E-M5 III owners wanting better autofocus without going to the OM-1
A5100 (2014)
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
Quick take: The a5100 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a5100 is the most affordable; only the om-3 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | OM-3 (2024) | A5100 (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £200 |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Live MOS Micro Four Thirds | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF — subject recognition (human, animal, bird, vehicle) | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 6.5 stops (7.5 stops with Sync IS lenses) | None |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic with AF | 6fps |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 414g (with battery) | 224g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 122.3 × 84.6 × 49.4mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | None |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | OM-3 | A5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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