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 7R VI
66.8MP stacked full-frame high-resolution body with 30fps bursts, 8K 30p, 4K 120p, and Sony's AI processing unit.
$4,499
Launch priceReleased Jun 2026
Alpha 7R VI is 14.3 years newer.
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Wins
OM-D E-M5
Wins
Alpha 7R VI
2 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7R VI has higher Resolution (66.8 MP vs 16.1 MP)
- BAlpha 7R VI has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
- BAlpha 7R VI has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 2,360,000)
- BAlpha 7R VI has higher RAW buffer depth (150 frames vs 60 frames)
- BAlpha 7R VI has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 15 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 7R VI
133 × 97 × 83 mm
713 g (1.57 lb / 25.15 oz)
OM-D E-M5 is 11mm narrower, 7mm shorter, and 39mm thinner than Alpha 7R VI.
OM-D E-M5 is 288 g lighter than Alpha 7R VI.
Depth (front-to-back): 44mm OM-D E-M5 · 83mm Alpha 7R VI
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 7R VI
133 × 97 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 7R VI
133 × 83 mm
Sensor size, to scale
OM-D E-M5
17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds
225 mm² area
Alpha 7R VI
35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame
862 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 7R VI
✓ 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 -6 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 122, 89.6, 43.7
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
AA filter
Only OM-D E-M5 supports it
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only OM-D E-M5 supports it
Weather sealing
Only OM-D E-M5 supports it
Weight
425 g vs 713 g — lower is better
AF points / zones
1053 vs 759 — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7R VI
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 132.7, 96.9, 82.9
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SDXC UHS-II
Resolution
66.8 MP vs 16.1 MP — higher is better
Max video bit rate
600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better
EVF resolution
9,437,184 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better
RAW buffer depth
150 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
Burst (electronic)
30 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓In-body stabilization (IBIS) — Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
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 7R VI
Pros
- ✓66.8MP stacked full-frame sensor
- ✓30fps blackout-free electronic burst
- ✓8K 30p and 4K 120p video
- ✓5-axis sensor-shift stabilization
- ✓9.44M-dot HDR OLED EVF
Cons
- –Very expensive
- –Large files demand fast cards and storage
- –8K workflow can be heavy
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the OM-D E-M5 and Alpha 7R VI at major authorized retailers.
OM System OM-D E-M5
Sony Alpha 7R VI
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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 7R VI?
Alpha 7R VI scores 8.5/10 versus 4.0/10 for OM-D E-M5 — 66.8MP — excellent for large prints and crops.
What's the resolution difference between the OM-D E-M5 and Alpha 7R VI?
OM-D E-M5 is 16.1 MP and Alpha 7R VI is 66.8 MP, so the Alpha 7R VI captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the OM-D E-M5 and Alpha 7R VI have in-body image stabilization?
OM-D E-M5 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 7R VI has in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the OM-D E-M5 or the Alpha 7R VI?
OM-D E-M5 reaches 15 fps electronic. Alpha 7R VI reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the OM-D E-M5 and Alpha 7R VI?
OM-D E-M5 weighs 425 g and Alpha 7R VI weighs 713 g, so the OM-D E-M5 is 288 g lighter.
Do the OM-D E-M5 and Alpha 7R VI record 4K video?
OM-D E-M5: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 7R VI: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the OM-D E-M5 and Alpha 7R VI weather sealed?
OM-D E-M5: Yes. Alpha 7R VI: No.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the OM-D E-M5 and 600 shots for the Alpha 7R VI, giving the OM-D E-M5 the edge.
How much does each cost?
OM-D E-M5 launched at $999 and Alpha 7R VI at $4,499. The OM-D E-M5 is $3,500 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way OM-D E-M5 vs Alpha 7R VI 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.