OM-3vs Sony A9 III
OM System
OM-3 (2024)
Starting from £999 new
Best for Travel, outdoor & adventure photography
View OM-3
VS
Sony
Sony A9 III (2023)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & action professionals
View Sony A9 III
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.
Sports & Action Professionals — Sony A9 III (2023): A paradigm-shifting camera — the global shutter eliminates every rolling shutter limitation that has constrained action photography for years.
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
Sony A9 III (2023)
- Professional sports photographers who need zero blackout and 120fps burst
- Wildlife photographers who demand the most advanced Sony AF available
- Photojournalists who need flash sync at any shutter speed
- A9 II owners upgrading to the world's first full-frame global shutter
Quick take: The sony a9 iii has the highest resolution at 25mp; the om-3 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | OM-3 (2024) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Live MOS Micro Four Thirds | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF — subject recognition (human, animal, bird, vehicle) | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 6.5 stops (7.5 stops with Sync IS lenses) | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic with AF | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 414g (with battery) | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 122.3 × 84.6 × 49.4mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | OM-3 | Sony A9 III |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
More comparisons with OM-3
Camera family history