Sony A6500 vs Olympus E-M5 II – Comparison

Let’s compare the Sony A6500 vs Olympus E-M5 II. The A6500 costs more but also gives you more features, so let’s see how the cheaper E-M5 II holds its spot.

Our comparison table below covers all the important specifications of each camera. Below that, we specifically talk about the new improvements and which model is better suited for your needs.

	Sony A6500	E-M5 II
Megapixels	24.2	16.1
Sensor Type	CMOS	Live MOS
Sensor Format	APS-C	Micro Four Thirds
Crop Factor	1.5x	2.0x
AA Filter	Yes	None
Image Resolution	6000 x 4000	4608 x 3456
Body Image Stabilization	Yes - 5-Axis	Yes
Lens Mount	Sony E	Micro Four Thirds
ISO	100 - 25,600	200 - 25,600
Expanded ISO	51,200	None
AF Points	425	81 Contrast
Cross-type AF Points	425 phase	0 phase
Continuous Mode	11fps	5fps/10fps
LCD	3.0" - Articulating	3.0" - Fully Articulated
LCD Resolution	921,600 dots	1,037,000 dots
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes
Focus Peaking	Yes	Yes
Top LCD Display	No	No
Viewfinder Type	EVF	EVF (2.36M)
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	1.07x	1.48x
Video Resolution	3840x2160 (30/25/24p)	1920x1080 (60/50/30/25/24p)
	1920x1080 (120/100/60/50p)	1280x720 (60/50/30/25/24p)
Microphone Jack	Yes	Yes
Headphone Jack	No	No
Memory Card Type	SD or MS Pro	SD
Dual Card Slots	No	No
SD UHS Support	UHS-I	UHS-II
Fastest Shutter Speed	1/4000	1/16000
Slowest Shutter Speed	30"	60"
Bulb Mode	Yes	Yes
JPEG Buffer Size	231	18
RAW Buffer Size	110	13
Time Lapse	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash	Yes	No
Max Flash Sync Speed	1/160	1/250
Startup Time	1.3s	0.8s
Built-in Wi-Fi	Yes	Yes
Built-in GPS	No	No
Built- in NFC	Yes	No
Bluetooth	No	No
USB Type	USB 2.0	USB 2.0
Environmentally Sealed	Yes	Yes
Battery Life (CIPA)	350 shots	310 shots
Battery Included	Yes (NP-FW50)	Yes (BLN-1)
Weight	16.0 oz (453g)	16.5 oz (469g)
Size	4.7 x 2.6 x 2.1"	4.9 x 3.3 x 1.8"
Price	Amazon	Amazon
Release Date	2016	2015

Sony A6500 Advantages:

• Megapixels –  8.1 more megapixels. For printing big and cropping, the Sony A6500 is a much better choice.

• Sensor Format – APS-C is bigger than MFT, which results in slightly less noise at higher ISO levels.

• ISO – 51,200 vs 25,600. Higher maximum ISO sensitivity.

• AF Points – 425 vs 81. The A6500 also has all 425 points phase detect, which are faster than contrast type (the Olympus has all 81 contrast).

• Continuous mode – 11fps vs 5fps/10fps. More is better for sports and wildlife since you have more chances of getting a tack sharp shot.

• Video Resolution – 4K video available.

• JPEG Buffer Size – 231 vs 18. Useful for long bursts.

• RAW Buffer Size – 110 vs 13.

• Built-in Flash

• Built-in NFC

• Size – The Sony A6500 is noticeably smaller.

The A6500 has a bigger sensor with 8 more megapixels, way better AF system, faster burst mode, 4K video, bigger RAW and JPEG buffer and is a little bit smaller too. Worth the money!

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.

Olympus E-M5 II Advantages:

• AA Filter – The Olympus E-M5 II has no AA filter.

• LCD – It’s  fully articulated.

• LCD Resolution – Higher resolution.

• Viewfinder Magnification – Higher magnification.

• UHS-II – Faster writing speeds than UHS-I, but you need a memory card that can handle such speeds.

• Faster Max Shutter Speed – 1/16000 vs 1/4000.

• Max Flash Sync Speed – 1/250 vs /160.

• Less Expensive – The E-M5 II costs around $400 less

What the cheaper E-M5 II offers is a fully articulated LCD with a higher resolution, UHS-II support for SD Cards, a faster max shutter speed and no AA filter. It doesn’t look special on paper compared to the A6500, but it’s a great camera nonetheless.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.