OM-5vs A7R III
VS
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Outdoor & Adventure — OM-5 (2022): The toughest camera at this price — IP53 weather sealing and 7.5-stop IBIS built for adventure photographers.
Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography — A7R III (2017): The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
Who should buy what
OM-5 (2022)
- Outdoor and adventure photographers who need a compact, weather-sealed body
- Travellers who want MFT's compact size with pro-level weather protection
- E-M5 III owners upgrading to OM System's improved subject detection
- Photographers who want strong IBIS and rugged build without OM-1 pricing
A7R III (2017)
- Landscape and studio photographers who need 42MP resolution at a used-price discount vs A7R IV
- Canon/Nikon DSLR professionals considering a mirrorless switch at a lower investment
- Commercial and product photographers who want full-frame resolution with IBIS for handheld work
- Portrait photographers who want the sharpest possible full-frame files for large print work
Quick take: The a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the om-5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | OM-5 (2022) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £899 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/60p, 4K/120p Cinema4K | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 121 all-cross points, subject tracking | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 7.5 stops (Dual IS with compatible lenses) | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic, 10fps mechanical | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 414g body only | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 122.3 × 87.6 × 49.7mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | OM-5 | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor & Adventure | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with OM-5
Camera family history