OM-5vs A9
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
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.
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-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
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-5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | OM-5 (2022) | A9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £899 | £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/60p, 4K/120p Cinema4K | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 121 all-cross points, subject tracking | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 7.5 stops (Dual IS with compatible lenses) | 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 | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 414g body only | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 122.3 × 87.6 × 49.7mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | 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 | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | OM-5 | A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor & Adventure | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
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