OM System
OM-5
Compact weather-sealed MFT for travel and outdoor photography.
$1,199
Launch priceReleased Nov 2022
Sony
Alpha 9 III
Global shutter sports flagship with 120fps and zero rolling shutter for pro action.
$5,999
Launch priceReleased Jan 2024
Alpha 9 III is 1.3 years newer.
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Wins
OM-5
Wins
Alpha 9 III
1 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- AOM-5 has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 0 fps)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 121)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 29.97 fps)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 2,360,000)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
OM-5
125 × 85 × 50 mm
414 g (0.91 lb / 14.60 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Alpha 9 III
136 × 97 × 83 mm
703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz)
OM-5 is 11mm narrower, 12mm shorter, and 33mm thinner than Alpha 9 III.
OM-5 is 289 g lighter than Alpha 9 III.
Depth (front-to-back): 50mm OM-5 · 83mm Alpha 9 III
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
OM-5
125 × 85 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 9 III
136 × 97 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
OM-5
125 × 50 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 9 III
136 × 83 mm
Sensor size, to scale
OM-5
17.4 × 13 mm · Compact / large-type
226 mm² area
Alpha 9 III
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
3.7× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
OM-5
Micro Four Thirds
130+
native lenses available
Alpha 9 III
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
OM-5
AF low-light limit
-8 EV vs -5 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Animals…
Burst (mechanical)
10 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 125.3, 85.2, 49.7
Card types
Adds SD, SDHC, SDXC
Codecs
Adds MOV, MPEG-4 AVC
Weight
414 g vs 703 g — lower is better
ISO min (native)
200 vs 250 — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 9 III
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
AF points / zones
759 vs 121 — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 29.97 fps — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
EVF resolution
9,437,184 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 25,600
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓In-body stabilization (IBIS) — Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
OM-5
Pros
- ✓Compact
- ✓IP53 sealing
- ✓Computational features
Cons
- –No grip extension
- –MFT sensor
- –Single slot
Alpha 9 III
Pros
- ✓Global shutter 120fps
- ✓Zero rolling shutter
- ✓Pro sports AF
- ✓Pre-capture buffer
Cons
- –24.6MP only
- –Premium price
- –Battery drain at max speed
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the OM-5 and Alpha 9 III at major authorized retailers.
OM System OM-5
Sony Alpha 9 III
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, OM-5 or Alpha 9 III?
Alpha 9 III scores 8.0/10 versus 2.5/10 for OM-5 — 4K recording.
What's the resolution difference between the OM-5 and Alpha 9 III?
OM-5 is 20.4 MP and Alpha 9 III is 24.6 MP, so the Alpha 9 III captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the OM-5 and Alpha 9 III have in-body image stabilization?
OM-5 has 6.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 9 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the OM-5 or the Alpha 9 III?
OM-5 reaches 30 fps electronic. Alpha 9 III reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the OM-5 and Alpha 9 III?
OM-5 weighs 414 g and Alpha 9 III weighs 703 g, so the OM-5 is 289 g lighter.
Do the OM-5 and Alpha 9 III record 4K video?
OM-5: 4K up to 29.97p. Alpha 9 III: 4K up to 120p.
Are the OM-5 and Alpha 9 III weather sealed?
OM-5: Yes. Alpha 9 III: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 310 shots (CIPA) for the OM-5 and 400 shots for the Alpha 9 III, giving the Alpha 9 III the edge.
How much does each cost?
OM-5 launched at $1,199 and Alpha 9 III at $5,999. The OM-5 is $4,800 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way OM-5 vs Alpha 9 III vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.
Product images courtesy of OM System and Sony press materials.