Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A6500 Specifications

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4/3 224.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-M5 II Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus E-M5 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the E-M5 II.
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What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus E-M5 II conclusion.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A6500 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A6500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A6500.
Compare Sony A6500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A6500 conclusion.

Detailed specifications
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
Sony Alpha ILCE-A6500

Links
Prices:	Compare Prices	Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL:	Manufacturer website	Manufacturer website
Predecessor:	Olympus E-M5 E-M5 vs E-M5 II	Sony A6300 A6300 vs A6500
Successor:	Olympus E-M5 III E-M5 II vs E-M5 III	Sony A6600 A6500 vs A6600
General
Model Number:	E-M5 II	A6500
Alternate Model Number(s):	E-M5 Mark II	ILCE-6500
Camera Format:	Compact System Camera	Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured:	Yes	Yes
Retail Price:	$999.99	$1299.99
Street Price:	$899.00	$1,198.00
Date Available:	2015-02-21	2016-11-15
Tripod Mount:	Yes	Yes
Weight:	16.5 oz (469 g) includes batteries	16.0 oz (453 g) includes batteries
Size:	4.9 x 3.3 x 1.8 in. (124 x 85 x 45 mm)	4.7 x 2.6 x 2.1 in. (120 x 67 x 53 mm)
Waterproof:	No	No
Waterproof Depth:	n/a	n/a

Image Sensor
Sensor Type:	Live MOS	CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:		Sony
Effective Megapixels:	16.1	24.2
Sensor Format:	4/3	APS-C
Sensor size:	224.9mm² (17.30mm x 13.00mm)	366.6mm² (23.50mm x 15.60mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch:	3.75 microns	3.92 microns
Focal Length Multiplier:	2.0x	1.5x
Aspect Ratio:	4:3	3:2
Color Filter Type:	RGBG	RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:	None	Fixed
Self-Cleaning:	Yes	Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization:	Yes	Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect:	No	Yes
DxO Sensor Score:	73	85
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):	23.0	24.5
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):	12.4	13.7
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):	908	1,405
Image Capture
Image Resolution:	4608 x 3456 (15.9 MP, 4:3), 3200 x 2400 (7.7 MP, 4:3), 2560 x 1920 (4.9 MP, 4:3), 1280 x 960 (1.2 MP, 4:3), 640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3), 7296 x 5472 (39.9 MP, 4:3), 9216 x 6912 (63.7 MP, 4:3)	6000 x 4000 (24.0 MP, 3:2), 6000 x 3376 (20.3 MP, 16:9), 4240 x 2832 (12.0 MP, 3:2), 4240 x 2400 (10.2 MP, Other), 3008 x 2000 (6.0 MP, 3:2), 3008 x 1688 (5.1 MP, 16:9), 12416 x 1856 (23.0 MP, Other), 8192 x 1856 (15.2 MP, Other), 2160 x 5536 (12.0 MP, Other), 2160 x 3872 (8.4 MP, Other)
Image File Format:	JPEG, MPO, 12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG	JPEG (EXIF 2.3), RAW (14-bit compressed ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second:	10.4	11.1
Video Capture
Can take movies:	Yes	Yes
Movie Resolution:	1920x1080 (60p/50p/30p/25p/24p) 1280x720 (60p/50p/30p/25p/24p) 640x480 (30p) 1280x720 (10p)	3840x2160 (30p/25p/24p) 1920x1080 (120p/100p/60p/60i/50p/50i/30p/25p/24p) 1280x720 (30p/25p)
Movie File Format:	MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with stereo sound), AVI (Motion JPEG)	XAVC S / AVCHD format Ver. 2.0 compliant / MP4; Audio: LPCM, 2ch / Dolby Digital (AC-3), 2ch, Dolby Digital Stereo Creator / MPEG-4 AAC-LC, 2ch
Composite Video Out:	Yes	No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video:	Yes	n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder:	No	n/a
HD Video Out:	Yes	Yes
HD Video Connection:	HDMI	HDMI

Lens & Optics
Lens Mount:	Micro Four Thirds	Sony E
Lens:	n/a	n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):
Focal Length (actual):
Zoom Ratio:
Aperture Range:
Integrated ND Filter:	No	No
Normal Focus Range:
Macro Focus Range:
Filter Thread:	n/a	n/a
Thread Type:	n/a	n/a
Optical Image Stabilization:	No	No
Digital Zoom:	Yes	Yes
Digital Zoom Values:	2x	Up to 4x; up to 2x Clear Image Digital Zoom
Auto Focus
Auto Focus:	Yes	Yes
Auto Focus Type:	High-speed Contrast-detect AF: 81-area multiple AF / All target, Group target area (9-area), Single target (Normal/Small) / Eye Detection (Nearer, Left, Right) / Magnified (up to 14x, over 800 AF points)	Hybrid Contrast/Phase Detection: Wide (425 points phase-detection AF, 169 points contrast-detection AF), Zone, Center, Flexible Spot (Small / Medium / Large), Expanded Flexible Spot
Auto Focus Assist Light?	Yes	Yes
Manual Focus:	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder:	EVF / LCD	EVF / LCD
Viewfinder Type:	EVF; 2.36M-dot LCD, 1.30x - 1.48x magnification, 100% coverage, 21mm eyepoint, -4 to +2 diopter, eye sensor	EVF type; 1.0cm (0.39-inch) 2.3M-dot XGA OLED, 100% coverage, 1.07x mag. (0.70x 35mm eq.), 23mm eyepoint, -4 to +3 diopter
Focus Peaking:	Yes	Yes
EVF Resolution:	2,360,000 dots	2,359,296 dots
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):	0.74x	0.70x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):	1.48x	1.07x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder:	Yes	Yes
Rear Display:	Yes	Yes
Rear Display Size (inches):	3.0	3.0
Rear Display Resolution:	1,037,000 dots (345,667 px)	921,600 dots (307,200 px)
Touchscreen:	Yes	Yes
Articulating Screen:	Yes	Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen:	Yes	No
Selfie Screen:	Yes	No
Max Playback Zoom:	14.0x	16.7x
Top Deck Display:	No	No

Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):	25600	25600
Minimum ISO (native):	200	100
ISO Settings:	AUTO: ISO Low (100) - 25600 (customizable, Default 200-1600) / Manual ISO Low (100) - 25600, 1/3 or 1 EV steps selectable	Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 25600, expandable to 51200
Auto ISO Mode:	Yes	Yes
White Balance Settings:	Auto, Lamp, Fluorescent, Daylight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Custom WB, One-touch WB	Auto WB (with new Ambience, Standard and White options), Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (Warm white/Cool white/Day white/Daylight), Flash, C. Temp 2500 to 9900K, C Filter G7 to M7 (15-step), Custom, Underwater; AWB micro adjustment
Shutter Speed Range:	1/16000 - 60 sec	1/4000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode:	Yes	Yes
Exposure Compensation:	+/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps	+/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes:	Digital ESP metering (324-area multi pattern metering), Center weighted average metering, Spot metering, Spot metering with highlight control, Spot metering with shadow control	1200-zone Evaluative, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure:	Yes	Yes
Aperture Priority:	Yes	Yes
Shutter Priority:	Yes	Yes
Full Manual Exposure:	Yes	Yes
Creative Exposure Modes:	Scene select AE (Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Sport, Hand-held Starlight1, Night scene, Night + Portrait, Children, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Documents, Panorama, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Fisheye Conv., Wide Conv., Macro Conv., Panning, 3D2), Underwater wide / macro, HDR1, HDR2, Art Filters (14). 1 8 images automatically shot and combined into a single image composite 2 For 3D lens(H-FT012 by Panasonic) only, still photo only	Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, Night Portrait, Night Scene, Hand-held Twilight, Anti Motion Blur, HDR, Sweep Panorama, Movie/High Frame Rate
Self Timer:	2, 10, Custom seconds	2 , 10, 10 (3 or 5 frames) seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):	Yes
High Resolution Composite:	64.0 megapixels	No
Flash
Built-in Flash:	No	Yes
Flash Modes:	Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual（1/1 (FULL) - 1/64）	Auto, Off, Fill-flash, Rear sync, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction: On/Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100):	9.0 m / 29.5 ft.	6.0 m / 19.7 ft.
Flash Range Description:	Bundled FL-LM3 flash has GN of 9m/ISO 100	Guide Number is 6m/19.7 ft at ISO 100; Range is lens aperture dependent
Max Flash Sync:	1/250	1/160
Flash Exposure Compensation:	+/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps	+/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection:	Hot Shoe, PC Sync Terminal	Multi Interface Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:	No	No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types:	SD / SDHC / SDXC	MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:	UHS-II	UHS-I
Other Memory:
Dual Card Slots:	No	No
RAW Capture Support:	Yes	Yes
Uncompressed Format:	12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG	RAW (14-bit compressed ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format:	MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with stereo sound), AVI (Motion JPEG)	XAVC S / AVCHD format Ver. 2.0 compliant / MP4; Audio: LPCM, 2ch / Dolby Digital (AC-3), 2ch, Dolby Digital Stereo Creator / MPEG-4 AAC-LC, 2ch
Included Memory:	No memory included	No memory included
Included Memory Type:
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi:	Yes	Yes
NFC:	No	Yes
Bluetooth:	No	Yes
Built-In GPS:	No	No
Microphone Jack:	Yes	Yes
Headphone Jack:	No	No
External Connections:	USB 2.0 High Speed,WiFi	USB 2.0 High Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant:	Yes	No
DPOF Compliant:	Yes	Yes
Remote Control:	Yes	Yes
Remote Control Type:	Optional Remote cable RM-UC1 or via Wi-Fi	Optional wired, IR or Wi-FI
Connections (extended):	Micro HDMI (Type-D), combined AV/USB connector, 3.5mm stereo mini jack	Micro (Type-D) HDMI, Multi Interface Shoe, Multi Micro USB

Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution):	0.73	0.62
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):	0.76	0.59
Camera penalizes early shutter press?	No	No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution):	10.4	11.1
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution):	18	231
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):	10.4	11.1
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):	13	110
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):	10.3	11.1
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):	13	101
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid):	0.14 seconds	0.18 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):
Shutter Lag (manual focus):	0.068 seconds	0.127 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):	0.34 seconds	0.29 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused):	0.046 seconds	0.019 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):
Startup Time:	0.8 seconds	1.3 seconds
Play -> Record Time:	0.5 seconds	0.9 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:	4.5 seconds	3.0 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):	310 shots	350 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):	310 shots	310 shots
Battery Life, Video:
Battery Form Factor:	Proprietary BLN-1	Proprietary NP-FW50
Usable Battery Types:	Lithium-ion rechargeable	Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included:	1 x Proprietary BLN-1 Lithium-ion rechargeable	1 x Proprietary NP-FW50 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter):	Yes	No
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:	Yes	No
Internal Charging Supported:	No	Yes
Software
Included Software:	Olympus Viewer 3 CD-ROM	Free downloads of Image Data Converter (Win only), Capture One Express (for Sony)
OS Compatibility:
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features:	16-megapixel Live MOS sensor; TruePic VII image processor; class-leading 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization; 10fps burst mode; new High-Res Shot mode generates 40MP JPEGs and 64MP RAW files; improved 1080p60 video; 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen; built-in Wi-Fi; dust, splash and freezeproof construction. Available in black or silver.