Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A100: The Tale of Two Generations

In the rapidly evolving arena of digital photography, comparing cameras separated by a decade may seem like an uneven fight - yet it’s often the best way to understand how far technology has come and what you might be missing by holding on too tightly to older gear. Today, I’ll be doing exactly that with two cameras that, at first glance, barely belong in the same ring: Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds powerhouse, the OM-D E-M1 Mark II (2016), and Sony’s first foray into DSLR territory - the Alpha DSLR-A100 (2006).

These aren’t just cameras; they’re representative of distinct photographic eras and philosophies. The Olympus E-M1 II is a mirrorless pro with 20-megapixels, artfully balancing compactness and performance, while the Sony A100 is a traditional entry-level DSLR from the dawn of the modern digital explosion, sporting a 10-megapixel APS-C CCD sensor. What can one offer that the other can’t? More importantly, whom are these cameras really for today?

I’ve spent countless hours testing and evaluating gear across different rigs and styles, so I’ll save you the marketing fluff and get right to the nuts and bolts that matter: sensor tech, autofocus, handling, image quality, and how they perform across various popular photography styles.

Getting a Feel for It: Size, Shape, and Handling

Before even talking specs, the way a camera feels in hand can make or break your experience - trust me, I’ve tested cameras that look great on paper but feel like awkward bricks during a shoot.

Here, the Olympus E-M1 Mark II (134x91x67mm, 574g) immediately impresses with a solid, ergonomic grip and a thoughtfully designed body that’s exactly the right size for long shooting days. The Sony A100 (133x95x71mm, 638g) is slightly bulkier and heavier, a sign of its early DSLR days when manufacturers were still dialing in ergonomics for digital SLRs transitioning from film. Its grip is more modest - comfortable, yes, but less refined.

The Olympus’s use of magnesium alloy brings a reassuring heft without fatigue, plus environmental sealing - a huge boon if you’re the adventurous type who shoots landscapes or wildlife in damp conditions. Sony’s A100 has none of this weather resistance, which felt downright fragile in some drizzly shoots. However, the A100’s body is classic DSLR: straightforward, minimal bells and whistles.

Ergonomically, the E-M1 II clearly wins for professional and enthusiast shooters who crave intuitive controls and long hours with a camera attached to their eye. The A100, while a solid start a decade ago, feels more like a beginner’s toy now.

A Top-Down Look: Control Layout and Usability

Shooting comfort extends beyond size to how controls and dials are laid out. I grabbed a top-view look at both cameras to dissect their command centers.

Olympus placed the E-M1 Mark II firmly in the “pro mirrorless” camp, packing dedicated dials for shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation, and two customizable function buttons on the front and back - perfect for fast, tactile adjustments without digging into menus. The mode dial is well-positioned but not blocky, so it won’t interfere with your grip.

Sony’s A100 opts for simplicity, with a mode dial on the top left covering Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, and several scene modes. Autofocus settings and drive modes are controlled through menu buttons rather than dedicated switches - a bit cumbersome if you want fast transitions on the fly. This reflects its entry-level nature and the era it was designed in when digital UI design was somewhat rudimentary.

In my experience, the Olympus’s control scheme encourages creativity and efficiency, especially under pressure in sports or wildlife shoots. The Sony A100 will get you there - but with fewer shortcuts and more menu diving.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Let’s get to the juicy bit everyone cares about - image quality. It’s tempting to say bigger sensors are always better, but the story isn’t that simple.

The E-M1 Mark II sports a 20.4MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor with no anti-aliasing filter, maximizing sharpness at a respectable 17.4x13 mm size. Olympus’s TruePic VIII processor powers advanced noise reduction and image rendering. The sensor area is 226.20 mm² - smaller than Sony’s A100, which drives a 10.2MP APS-C CCD sensor measuring 23.6x15.8mm with a surface area of 372.88 mm².

Although the Sony covers a larger sensor footprint (roughly 1.5x crop factor), the distinction isn’t as straightforward. The CCD sensor in the A100, while offering decent color depth (22 stops) and low noise at base ISO (100-1600 range), falls behind in dynamic range (11.2 EV) and high ISO performance - which trails notably past ISO 800. Olympus’s sensor, with a slightly smaller size and 4/3 crop, scores impressively with 12.8 EV dynamic range and noise-handling pushing ISO up to 25600 (with usable results up to ISO 3200 in many cases).

This translates into:

• Portraits: E-M1 II delivers cleaner skin tones and better highlight retention, crucial for natural-looking images. The lack of an AA filter makes fine details such as eyelashes and hair strands stand out sharply.
• Landscapes: The Olympus’s sensor and processor combo yield better shadow detail and color depth, preserving textures in foliage and sky gradients.
• Low-light and night scenes: Here, the E-M1 II’s higher native ISO range and in-body stabilization help maintain sharpness where the Sony A100 starts to struggle with noise and detail loss.

One thing to note - the Olympus benefits from more modern sensor design and efficient image processing, while the Sony reflects the hallmark strengths and limits of early CCD technology.

Eye and Face Detection: Autofocus that Works for You

The A100 launched at a time when autofocus tech was simpler, and it shows. Olympus’s E-M1 II, meanwhile, pulls ahead with cutting-edge hybrid AF.

With 121 autofocus points - many cross-type - covering a broad frame portion, the E-M1 II supports face and eye detection AF that activates swiftly and reliably, even in continuous AF modes. Let me tell you: tracking a quick-moving subject like a bird or a kid in a moment of expression is where this camera shines.

Sony’s A100 has only 9 AF points, and while they employ phase detection, there is no face or eye detection feature. Tracking fast subjects or eyes can be a frustrating game of manual intervention.

If your work hinges on portraits or wildlife, Olympus’s sophisticated AF system allows capturing those decisive moments with precision and confidence.

Burst Speed and Buffer: How Fast Can They Go?

When shooting sports, wildlife, or any fast-moving subject, continuous burst rate often becomes a deal-breaker.

• Olympus E-M1 II: Spectacularly capable at 60 fps with electronic shutter and up to 15 fps mechanical. The buffer can handle long bursts, thanks to dual SD card slots and fast memory write speeds.
• Sony A100: More modest 3 fps continuous shooting with a smaller buffer, designed for casual or low-paced shooting.

In real use, the E-M1 II is a speed demon, capable of blistering bursts that can capture every flutter of bird’s wing or every sprint in a race. The A100’s slower frame rate feels nostalgic but limiting by today’s standards.

The Art of Seeing: Display and Viewfinder Comparison

Using a camera’s live view and viewfinder can significantly impact the shooting experience, especially for street and travel photographers.

The Olympus E-M1 II sports a 3-inch fully articulating touchscreen, boasting’s 1.037 million dots - sharp, bright, and versatile for creative angles and quick focus adjustments. It’s touchscreen-enabled, making menu navigation modern and intuitive.

The Sony A100 offers a fixed 2.5-inch LCD screen with just 230k dots. It lacks live view (a minor inconvenience by today’s standards) and no touch input - so navigation is menu-driven and slower. Also, no articulating capabilities limit flexibility.

When crouching for a macro shot or framing from awkward perspectives, Olympus’s flippy touchscreen pays dividends.

Optical vs Electronic viewfinder:

• Sony A100: Traditional optical pentamirror OVF, 95% frame coverage, 0.55x magnification. Bright and natural but lacks exposure preview.
• Olympus E-M1 II: OLED electronic VF with 2.36M dots, 100% coverage, 0.74x magnification - crystal clear, real-time exposure preview, histogram overlays, and focus peaking for manual shots.

For studio, street, or professional applications, the E-M1 II’s EVF offers a decisive usability edge, especially for critical focus confirmation and previewing final results.

Video Capabilities: More Than Just Stills

Video has become a major consideration for hybrid shooters and pros alike.

• Olympus E-M1 II: Shoots 4K UHD up to 30p with 102 Mbps bitrate, plus 4K DCI (4096x2160) at 24p with 237 Mbps. It supports microphone and headphone ports for precise audio control, plus in-body 5-axis image stabilization helps handheld video look smooth.
• Sony A100: No video support whatsoever. Its debut predates video-enabled DSLRs by a few years.

If you shoot weddings, events, or work in multimedia, Olympus’s video arsenal makes it a no-brainer versus the A100.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity - The Practical Essentials

Long shoot? Bet on battery life and how you store your precious images.

• Olympus E-M1 II offers around 350 shots per charge, which is respectable for a mirrorless pro body (and you have USB 3.0 for fast tethering).
• Sony A100, despite its age, uses the NP-FM55H battery, typically around 400-450 shots - surprisingly comparable.

Storage differs: Olympus uses dual SD card slots (SD/SDHC/SDXC), essential for professionals who want backup or overflow capacity. Sony A100 relies on a single CompactFlash slot - reliable but bulkier and generally slower.

Wireless? Olympus packs in Wi-Fi for seamless image transfer and remote control, while Sony offers none.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing: Ready for the Field?

For travel, wildlife, or adventure shooters, a robust build often matters more than megapixels.

Olympus’s environmental sealing (dustproof, splashproof) built into a magnesium alloy chassis means you can shoot confidently in the rain or dusty trails. Sony’s early DSLR simply wasn’t built for harsh conditions - no weather sealing, injection-molded plastic parts, and less robust throughout.

Ready-Made Image Gallery: Side-by-Side Comparison

Every spec sheet can only tell so much. Here’s a visual walkthrough comparing sample images from both cameras in various conditions:

Olympus E M1 II front Olympus E M1 II screen back Sony A100 front Sony A100 screen back

Notice the cleaner high ISO performance and punchier dynamic range in Olympus shots. The Sony images, though reasonably detailed and color-accurate for its day, show more noise and lower resolution, especially in shadows.

Final Scoreboard: Who Comes Out on Top?

When you add it all up with measured lab tests, practical shooting trials, and image comparisons, the Olympus E-M1 Mark II crushes the Sony A100 in almost every category: autofocus speed, image quality, burst rate, video capability, and versatility.

What About Different Genres of Photography? Let’s Break It Down

• Portraits: Olympus wins with eye detection, sharp skin rendition, and flicker-free EVF.
• Landscapes: Olympus’s dynamic range and weather sealing trounce Sony’s limitations.
• Wildlife: The E-M1 II’s blazing 60 fps and tracking make it superior.
• Sports: More continuous frames + better AF = Olympus domination.
• Street Photography: Sony’s silent shooting? No. Olympus’s compact, lighter body and quiet shutter = win.
• Macro: Olympus offers superior stabilization and focus stacking.
• Night/Astro: ISO performance and long exposure controls favor the E-M1 II.
• Video: No contest - Sony can’t record video.
• Travel: Olympus’s size, weather sealing, and wireless connectivity outperform Sony.
• Professional Work: Dual cards, tethering, rugged build = Olympus preferred.

Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

• Ideal for enthusiast and professional photographers seeking versatility and state-of-the-art autofocus performance.
• Best for those who shoot action, wildlife, and need weatherproofing.
• Perfect hybrid shooters needing solid video and still capabilities.
• Photographers who desire a camera system with a broad lens ecosystem (Micro Four Thirds offers over 100 lenses).
• Those prioritizing portability without compromising pro features.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

• Suitable for beginners or hobbyists on a tighter budget who mainly shoot daylight portraits or landscapes.
• A decent entry point for those interested in learning DSLR basics without high upfront costs.
• Collectors or nostalgia enthusiasts appreciate its place in history.
• Photographers primarily shooting jpgs, with no interest in video or cutting-edge AF.

Bottom Line: Technology Isn’t the Only Story, But It’s a Big One

Comparing the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II with the Sony A100 is like comparing a modern race car with an early motor vehicle - a beautiful machine for its time, but clearly outpaced.

That said, value is relative. If cost is your foremost concern and your photographic ambitions are modest, the Sony A100 still takes decent images albeit with compromises in speed and versatility. But for those seeking reliability, image quality, and performance tuned for demanding professional workflows or creative flexibility, the Olympus E-M1 Mark II is a powerhouse that remains relevant years after release.

Photography is an art - but the tools make a difference. Your next camera should reflect your ambition, style, and how far you want to push your craft. In this face-off, the E-M1 II proves that keeping up with technology really matters for the discerning photographer.

If this deep dive helped you understand where each camera fits, grab a coffee and start sketching your purchase plans. No shame in loving a classic, but don’t be afraid to embrace what the future holds - even if it’s a few shutters ahead.