OM System
OM-D E-M5
Landmark compact weather-sealed MFT body that put Micro Four Thirds on the map.
$999
Launch priceReleased Feb 2012
Sony
Alpha 7 IV
33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.
$2,499
Launch priceReleased Oct 2021
Alpha 7 IV is 9.7 years newer.
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Wins
OM-D E-M5
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
5 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher RAW buffer depth (828 frames vs 60 frames)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Resolution (33 MP vs 16.1 MP)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 6 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to shareOM-D E-M5
122 × 90 × 44 mm
425 g (0.94 lb / 14.99 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 × 80 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
OM-D E-M5 is 9mm narrower, 7mm shorter, and 36mm thinner than Alpha 7 IV.
OM-D E-M5 is 233 g lighter than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 44mm OM-D E-M5 · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
OM-D E-M5
122 × 90 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
OM-D E-M5
122 × 44 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 80 mm
Sensor size, to scale
OM-D E-M5
17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds
225 mm² area
Alpha 7 IV
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
3.8× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
OM-D E-M5
Micro Four Thirds
130+
native lenses available
Alpha 7 IV
✓ 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-D E-M5
AF low-light limit
-7 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 122, 89.6, 43.7
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only OM-D E-M5 supports it
Weight
425 g vs 658 g — lower is better
Burst (electronic)
15 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
AF points / zones
1053 vs 759 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Vehicle
Battery life (CIPA)
640 shots vs 580 shots — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7 IV
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8
RAW buffer depth
828 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
Max video bit rate
600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
Resolution
33 MP vs 16.1 MP — higher is better
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Insect, Car/Train, Airplane
Internal RAW video
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 60 fps
- ✓In-body stabilization (IBIS) — Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
OM-D E-M5
Pros
- ✓Historic MFT body
- ✓Weather sealed
- ✓Compact
- ✓Built-in EVF
Cons
- –16MP very dated
- –Old AF
- –Superseded many times
Alpha 7 IV
Pros
- ✓33MP — more detail for cropping and print
- ✓10-bit 4K 60p (Super35 crop) / 4K 30p full-frame
- ✓Full-size HDMI port
- ✓759 phase-detect AF points
Cons
- –4K 60p requires Super35 crop
- –10fps burst lags behind R6 II at 40fps
- –Complex menu system
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the OM-D E-M5 and Alpha 7 IV at major authorized retailers.
OM System OM-D E-M5
Sony Alpha 7 IV
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for portraits, OM-D E-M5 or Alpha 7 IV?
Alpha 7 IV scores 9.0/10 versus 4.0/10 for OM-D E-M5 — 33MP — ample resolution for portraits.
What's the resolution difference between the OM-D E-M5 and Alpha 7 IV?
OM-D E-M5 is 16.1 MP and Alpha 7 IV is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 IV captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the OM-D E-M5 and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
OM-D E-M5 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the OM-D E-M5 or the Alpha 7 IV?
OM-D E-M5 reaches 15 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the OM-D E-M5 and Alpha 7 IV?
OM-D E-M5 weighs 425 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the OM-D E-M5 is 233 g lighter.
Do the OM-D E-M5 and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
OM-D E-M5: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the OM-D E-M5 and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
OM-D E-M5: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the OM-D E-M5 and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the OM-D E-M5 the edge.
How much does each cost?
OM-D E-M5 launched at $999 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The OM-D E-M5 is $1,500 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way OM-D E-M5 vs Alpha 7 IV vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.
Product images courtesy of OM System and Sony press materials.