Trying to Choose New Camera and Lenses: Sony NEX vs Olympus OM-D

I don't have a Micro 4/3s and can't speak to it from experience, but in general the biggest advantage that it is touted to have vis a vis NEX is that it is a more complete system and has more quality lenses available. Then, to me, if the particular lenses that you do need are available on the NEX then this point is more or less moot (great if you have 20 nice lenses to choose from, but who takes that many with them?), especially if you consider that another handful of new NEX lenses are on their way soon.

The NEX sensor size advantage means that you'll have more options for narrow DOF and better high ISO (low light) performance. The size of the disparity is hard to qualify and opinions do vary, as you've probably seen by browsing these boards. One might say that the difference is not huge, but significant.

If you want external flash compatibility, I'd rule out the 5r as you've already surmised (unless the one or two options available happen to exactly match what you're looking for and you'll never need to change/upgrade). The NEX-6 with a simple adapter gets you all the available Sony/Minolta shoe stuff, and there should be a ton of new stuff directly compatible with its new shoe coming very soon.

So given the requirements that you've said, I recommend the NEX-6, but then this is the NEX board, so take it with a grain.

The first two lenses I'd get are exactly the ones you mentioned, SEL50 and SEL35. The former is great for portraits. The latter, in combination with the kit power zoom, makes a great travel combo.

Many thanks for the quick reply! Very helpful indeed and I feel encouraged that I am at least partly on the right track in terms of thinking! Regarding external flash options, I have still not understood whether the NEX6 requires specific Sony (or Minolta) accessories or is universally compatible with a multitude of third party stuff? Any input on this also much appreciated! Thanks!

You won't go wrong with either system, but I would post this question in both the M43 and NEX forums. You will probably get a quite different answer in each...

Be honest with your needs and you will get plenty of good advice here.

Encouraging, thanks!

as a ex-NEX5n user, with no experience in olympus, i might say that:

- you want portraiture - even if you could do that with the 16mm pancake, portaiture means at least a medium telephoto - and a fast one. NEX offers you only the 50 1.8 (75mm EQ). Olympus has many choices, including the 75mm (DXOmark quoted it as the best micro43 lens)

- travel photo - the OM-D is weather proof - i never mind having this feature, even if i used my NEX in light snow/rain. also OM-D has the in-body-stabilisation, meaning that you could use it with every single lens you want to buy, including fast primes.

-for street photography the touch screen is irreplaceable. shooting at waist level, just tap the screen and nowbody knows if you are making adjustments or taking their picture. I tried street photo with the d800 - when people are seeing you rising your camera to your eye - their attitude already changed.

-ergonomy - the solid grip of the NEX serie made me preffer one instead of the hard-to-handle Olympus EP3

- regarding color depth, dynamic range, etc - with the OM-d Olympus is near the NEX serie, despite the smaller sensor.

-lens selection - i lived almost an year with just a manual - everything voigtlander 40mm 1.4 and it was the most interesting and rewarding period of my amateur-photographer-life.

- for pocketability - NEX + the 16-50 zoom is unbeatable.

to summarize, if i'll have to buy another mirrorless (but only as a second camera), it will be the... RX100 or the NEX5r + 16-50. As the only camera (meaning more money also) - it will be the OM-D.

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Please forgive my grammar but if you find it inconceivable address me in romanian.

Thanks, that is a really helpful summary of pros and cons! And I hadn't considered the discrete nature of shooting with the screen... For that and the compact zippy feel, I'm leaning toward the OM-D at the moment despite the extra $$ But will keep an open mind for now..

A nice post overall, but I just want to point out that this is probably the minority opinion. Any camera with a flip-out screen will allow you to shoot at waist level. Perhaps hitting the screen is more stealth than pushing the shutter, but then - you've already got your shot anyway

I'd much rather have a viewfinder.

Excellent summary.

I have the NEX-5N, NEX-7, and OM-D E-M5 and use primarily manual focus Leica lenses on them.

I also have a handful of AF lenses for both systems.

With the OMD Olympus has finally gotten an excellent sensor.

So that shouldn't be a major factor anymore.

What initially attracted me to the OMD is its in-body-image-stabilization.

An amazing piece of technology that works.

When one halfway presses the shutter button all shaking of the image on the LCD or in the finder stops.

I have managed to get a useable image handheld at 1/3s exposure time.

That would be impossible for me to pull off with my NEXs.

If you shoot primarily AF in single focus mode then both systems are okay.

For AF-C mode the NEXs have the clear advantage.

The NEXs have an APS-C size sensor with a crop factor of 1.5x, the OMD has a crop factor of 2x.

With the currently available Metabones Speed Booster adapter for full frame lenses that crop factor becomes 1.1x.

So, that's almost a full frame camera setup then. One also gains one stop in exposure.

Later the Speed Booster will also become available for the OMD and will give you a crop factor of 1.4x.

So, one could get almost the NEX experience on the OMD then.

I don't think you would go wrong with either system.

At this stage of development my nod would go to the OMD for your stated photographic purposes.

Good luck with your decision.

Best, K-H.

I had OMD before and have now Nex 6. Both are great cameras but I did not like OMD ergonomics, even with optional grip, and it was main reason to switch brands; Sony feels just right for me. When you shoot a lot ergonomics becoming a critical factor. Of course it is personal.  Lens lineup different, but Sony has now several very good lens which is enough for me.

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Anatoli

Thanks for observations.

Regarding the touch-screen functionality, sorry that i wasn't too explicit - i was referring at the tap-to-focus capabilities. That one allows you (by taping the screen) to focus where the subject is, in a fraction. With a normal tilt-screen you have to eighter click - click - click - click - click - back click - back click to move the focus point(i always move too further and have to go back a click or two) , eighter focus-and-recompose. Combining the tap-to-zoom with peaking is a real useful tool for manual focusing.

... and i love optical viewfinders too.

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Please forgive my grammar but if you find it inconceivable address me in romanian.

Hello ClarkC,

I have Nex 6 and before buying, considered and tried others.

I like to use other brand's lenses with adapter.

Then Olympus in camera image stabilisation is a plus.

Nevertheless I don't miss it so much.

And less crop with Nex, but don't bother too much, wether 1,5 or 2.

Weather proof may be some plus, I don't miss it.

Choice of lenses for Nex already sufficicent.

Nex or OM-D are both excellent for for years to come.

As other replies showed you already.

Try both and get the feel of both.

Rbbra.

Also keep in mind that ISO1600 on the omd is actually ISO800. If you compare with the Nex-F3 there is a 1 stop difference in shutter speed. So the omd-em5 is actually not so great in low light.

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www.alex-digitalpics.be by Sony

When I had the OMD I had the Oly 45/1.8 and Panny 25/1.4 prime lenses. They were great lenses to use on the camera and the camera itself is great. IQ from the OMD is excellent and very close to what I'm getting with the NEX. AF speed is super fast, a lot faster than the NEX and is pretty accurate most of the times. The in body image stabilizer is AWESOME! I used it on my long legacy lenses and it worked great, no camera shake at all. Pretty amazing system I must say. Being weather sealed is a nice plus too =]

The IBIS of the OMD is great but I still find it a bit difficult to manual focus quickly without having to zoom in. Since I use quite a bit of legacy lenses, focus peaking seem to work better for me so I went back to the NEX, now have the NEX6. I had the NEX7 before I went to the OMD. I only have the 18-55 and 55-210 lens for now, might add the 50 or 35 prime later on. Overall I think I still prefer the NEX better. The 6/7 fits the hand perfectly and is way more comfortable to hold one handed. Also, there's something about having a bigger sensor, the image seems to pop more. The OMD's IQ is great but doesn't pop as much as the NEX.

Over the years I've used a few m43 cameras and the OMD was by far the best I've used. There are things I didn't like about it and same goes for the NEX, no camera's perfect. If I could, I would own both Good luck on your search.

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I only shoot JPEG =]

Hi Clark, in addition to features and specs something else to consider is the aspect ratio. 4/3 pictures have an aspect ratio of 3:4, based on an old TV screen shape. NEX pictures have the traditional photographic aspect ratio of 2:3. IMO the 4/3 ratio seems cramped or cropped in comparison to the, IMO, more pleasing, expansive 2:3 aspect ratio. Something to consider?

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JohnK

Take a picture, it'll last longer.

Many thanks for that. I hadn't considered this point and shall think about it. Intuitively, I agree with you that the 3:2 aspect ratio seems more naturally pleasing.. Will need to sleep on this!

I applaud your systematic approach in choosing your new camera system.  Those members posting here have reached different conclusions about the merits of the two systems based on their own direct experiences with each.  Thus, it is fair to say that the differences between the two systems are weighted differently depending on the individual.

So, in the absence of any hands-on experience with either system it is hard for you to predict, based just on imagining, which factors might most influence your own decision.  So, why not rent each of them, plus lens, for a few days and then let us know what you think, based on your own direct experience?

Actually, this is a great idea although I am hampered by the simple fact that I live in Moscow and any purchases are usually done in a blitz during trips to Europe or elsewhere! I am busy digesting the wealth of info I have already received here and may well make a snap decision in the end based on some emotional angle. However, from the info gleaned here I understand that there are many satisfied users of both systems so the down side seems quite limited !

I tested both cameras and posted my experience here:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3370709

I am not addressing your questions directly but you might find some of my findings useful.

If you get  there please click "show signature". I messed up my post and the majority of it was interpreted as my signature.

Nikos.

Indeed, your location poses severe constraints on rentals as a way of obtaining direct experience.  On the plus side, though, just think of all those cheap vintage Russian manual lenses (mostly M42 screw-mounts) that you can acquire for your new camera.

If shooting vintage glass is an interest to you, then I'd strongly consider a Nex because it has BOTH magnification AND focus peaking, whereas the Oly has just magnification.  Magnification is usually fine, but focus peaking is easier for me, plus much better than magnification when using longer range manual lenses because it is hard to focus a shaky, magnified distant image.