OM System OM-5 vs Sony RX1R III

The OM System OM-5 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R III are two enthusiast cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in October 2022 and July 2025. The OM-5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the RX1R III is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (OM-5) and a full frame (RX1R III) sensor. The OM System has a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 60.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

OM System OM-5		Sony RX1R III
Mirrorless system camera		Fixed lens compact camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses		35mm f/2.0
20.2 MP – Four Thirds sensor		60.2 MP – Full Frame sensor
4K/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 200-25,600		ISO 100-32,000 (50 - 102,400)
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots		3.0" LCD – 2360k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Fixed touchscreen
10 shutter flaps per second		5 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		no shake reduction
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
310 shots per battery charge		300 shots per battery charge
125 x 85 x 50 mm, 414 g		113 x 68 x 88 mm, 498 g

Check OM-5 price at
amazon.com
Check RX1R III price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the OM System OM-5 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R III? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the OM System OM-5 and the Sony RX1R III. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The OM-5 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the RX1R III is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony RX1R III is notably smaller (28 percent) than the OM System OM-5. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the RX1R III has a lens built in, whereas the OM-5 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the OM-5 and their specifications in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the OM-5 gets 310 shots out of its OM System BLS-50 battery, while the RX1R III can take 300 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FW50 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		OM System OM-5	125 mm	85 mm	50 mm	414 g	310	Y	Oct 2022	US$ 1 199	amazon.com
2.		Sony RX1R III	113 mm	68 mm	88 mm	498 g	300	Y	Jul 2025	US$ 5 099	amazon.com
3.		Fujifilm GFX 100RF	134 mm	90 mm	77 mm	735 g	820	Y	Mar 2025	US$ 4 899	amazon.com
4.		Fujifilm X100V	128 mm	75 mm	53 mm	478 g	420	Y	Feb 2020	US$ 1 399	ebay.com
5.		Leica Q3	130 mm	80 mm	93 mm	743 g	350	Y	May 2023	US$ 5 999	amazon.com
6.		Olympus E-M1	130 mm	94 mm	63 mm	497 g	350	Y	Sep 2013	US$ 1 399	ebay.com
7.		Olympus E-M5 II	124 mm	85 mm	45 mm	469 g	310	Y	Feb 2015	US$ 1 099	ebay.com
8.		Olympus E-M5 III	125 mm	85 mm	50 mm	414 g	310	Y	Oct 2019	US$ 1 199	ebay.com
9.		Olympus PEN-F	125 mm	72 mm	37 mm	427 g	330	n	Jan 2016	US$ 1 199	ebay.com
10.		OM System OM-1	135 mm	92 mm	73 mm	599 g	520	Y	Feb 2022	US$ 2 199	ebay.com
11.		OM System OM-3	139 mm	89 mm	46 mm	496 g	590	Y	Feb 2025	US$ 1 999	amazon.com
12.		OM System OM-5 II	125 mm	85 mm	50 mm	414 g	310	Y	Jun 2025	US$ 1 199	amazon.com
13.		Panasonic G90	130 mm	94 mm	77 mm	536 g	290	Y	Apr 2019	US$ 999	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic GX8	133 mm	78 mm	63 mm	487 g	330	Y	Jul 2015	US$ 1 199	ebay.com
15.		Sigma fp L	113 mm	70 mm	45 mm	427 g	240	Y	Mar 2021	US$ 2 499	amazon.com
16.		Sony A6500	120 mm	67 mm	53 mm	453 g	350	Y	Oct 2016	US$ 1 399	ebay.com
17.		Sony RX1R II	113 mm	65 mm	72 mm	507 g	220	n	Oct 2015	US$ 3 299	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the OM System OM-5 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Sony RX1R III a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the RX1R III is 278 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.0. The sensor in the OM-5 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the RX1R III offers a 3:2 aspect.

With 60.2MP, the RX1R III offers a higher resolution than the OM-5 (20.2MP), but the RX1R III nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.76μm versus 3.34μm for the OM-5) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the RX1R III is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 8 months) than the OM-5, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sony RX1R III implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the RX1R III for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 47.5 x 31.7 inches or 120.7 x 80.5 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 38 x 25.3 inches or 96.6 x 64.4 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 31.7 x 21.1 inches or 80.5 x 53.6 cm. The corresponding values for the OM System OM-5 are 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm for good quality, 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm for very good quality, and 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

Unlike the RX1R III, the OM-5 has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (80MP) by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The OM System OM-5 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 64-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R III are ISO 100 to ISO 32000, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-102400.

In terms of underlying technology, the OM-5 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the RX1R III uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		OM System OM-5	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	23.4	13.4	1622	78
2.		Sony RX1R III	Full Frame	60.2	9504	6336	4K/30p	25.4	14.9	3417	97
3.		Fujifilm GFX 100RF	Medium Format	101.8	11648	8736	4K/30p	25.9	15.1	3805	101
4.		Fujifilm X100V	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/30p	24.2	13.6	1996	84
5.		Leica Q3	Full Frame	60.3	9528	6328	8K/30p	25.4	14.7	3216	96
6.		Olympus E-M1	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	23.0	12.7	757	73
7.		Olympus E-M5 II	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	23.0	12.5	842	73
8.		Olympus E-M5 III	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	23.3	13.1	1324	76
9.		Olympus PEN-F	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	23.1	12.4	894	74
10.		OM System OM-1	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/60p	23.4	13.4	1553	77
11.		OM System OM-3	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/60p	23.4	13.7	1852	78
12.		OM System OM-5 II	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	23.4	13.7	1889	78
13.		Panasonic G90	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	23.2	13.0	1273	75
14.		Panasonic GX8	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	23.5	12.6	806	75
15.		Sigma fp L	Full Frame	60.2	9520	6328	4K/30p	25.3	14.4	3001	96
16.		Sony A6500	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.5	13.7	1405	85
17.		Sony RX1R II	Full Frame	42.2	7952	5304	1080/60p	25.8	13.9	3204	97
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The OM-5 and the RX1R III are similar in the sense that both feature an electronic viewfinder, which is helpful when framing images in bright sunlight. Moreover, their viewfinders offer an identical resolution of 2360k dots. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the OM System OM-5, the Sony RX1R III, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		OM System OM-5	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
2.		Sony RX1R III	2360	n	3.0 / 2360	fixed	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	n	n
3.		Fujifilm GFX 100RF	5760	n	3.2 / 2100	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.0/s	n	n
4.		Fujifilm X100V	3690	n	3.0 / 1620	tilting	Y	1/4000s	11.0/s	n	n
5.		Leica Q3	5760	n	3.0 / 1840	tilting	Y	1/2000s	15.0/s	n	Y
6.		Olympus E-M1	2360	n	3.0 / 1037	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
7.		Olympus E-M5 II	2360	n	3.0 / 1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
8.		Olympus E-M5 III	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
9.		Olympus PEN-F	2360	n	3.0 / 1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
10.		OM System OM-1	5760	n	3.0 / 1640	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
11.		OM System OM-3	2360	n	3.0 / 1640	swivel	Y	1/8000s	6.0/s	n	Y
12.		OM System OM-5 II	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
13.		Panasonic G90	2360	n	3.0 / 1240	swivel	Y	1/4000s	9.0/s	Y	Y
14.		Panasonic GX8	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	Y
15.		Sigma fp L	optional	n	3.2 / 2100	fixed	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	n
16.		Sony A6500	2359	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	Y	1/4000s	11.0/s	Y	Y
17.		Sony RX1R II	2360	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.0/s	n	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The OM System OM-5 and the Sony RX1R III both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the OM-5 and the RX1R III write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras support UHS-II cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the OM System OM-5 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		OM System OM-5	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
2.		Sony RX1R III	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
3.		Fujifilm GFX 100RF	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
4.		Fujifilm X100V	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
5.		Leica Q3	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
6.		Olympus E-M1	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
7.		Olympus E-M5 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Olympus E-M5 III	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
9.		Olympus PEN-F	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
10.		OM System OM-1	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	Y
11.		OM System OM-3	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	Y
12.		OM System OM-5 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
13.		Panasonic G90	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
14.		Panasonic GX8	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
15.		Sigma fp L	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	-
16.		Sony A6500	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony RX1R II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

Both the OM-5 and the RX1R III are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The OM-5 replaced the earlier Olympus E-M5 III, while the RX1R III followed on from the Sony RX1R II. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official OM System and Sony websites.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the OM System OM-5 and the Sony RX1R III? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the OM System OM-5:

• High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More flexible: Accepts interchangeable lenses, so that lens characteristics can be altered.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in October 2022).

Reasons to prefer the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R III:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (60.2 vs 20.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 76%.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.7x vs 0.68x).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2360k vs 1040k dots).
• Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the OM-5 necessitates an extra lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (113x68mm vs 125x85mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 2.0).
• More modern: Reflects 2 years and 8 months of technical progress since the OM-5 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the RX1R III is the clear winner of the contest (12 : 8 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the OM System OM-5 and the Sony RX1R III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best Prime Lens Compact Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the OM-5 or the RX1R III. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		OM System OM-5	5/5	..	4.5/5	83/100	5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2022	US$ 1 199	amazon.com
2.		Sony RX1R III	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jul 2025	US$ 5 099	amazon.com
3.		Fujifilm GFX 100RF	..	..	..	..	..	..	Mar 2025	US$ 4 899	amazon.com
4.		Fujifilm X100V	5/5	+ +	4.5/5	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2020	US$ 1 399	ebay.com
5.		Leica Q3	5/5	..	4.5/5	..	..	4.5/5	May 2023	US$ 5 999	amazon.com
6.		Olympus E-M1	5/5	+ +	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2013	US$ 1 399	ebay.com
7.		Olympus E-M5 II	5/5	+ +	4.5/5	81/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2015	US$ 1 099	ebay.com
8.		Olympus E-M5 III	5/5	+	5/5	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2019	US$ 1 199	ebay.com
9.		Olympus PEN-F	..	..	4/5	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2016	US$ 1 199	ebay.com
10.		OM System OM-1	5/5	..	..	87/100	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2022	US$ 2 199	ebay.com
11.		OM System OM-3	..	..	..	86/100	..	..	Feb 2025	US$ 1 999	amazon.com
12.		OM System OM-5 II	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2025	US$ 1 199	amazon.com
13.		Panasonic G90	4.5/5	+	4.5/5	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2019	US$ 999	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic GX8	5/5	+	..	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2015	US$ 1 199	ebay.com
15.		Sigma fp L	4/5	..	4/5	..	4/5	4/5	Mar 2021	US$ 2 499	amazon.com
16.		Sony A6500	5/5	+ +	3.5/5	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2016	US$ 1 399	ebay.com
17.		Sony RX1R II	5/5	..	..	82/100	..	4.5/5	Oct 2015	US$ 3 299	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Check OM-5 price at
amazon.com
Check RX1R III price at
amazon.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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Check OM-5 price at
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