Olympus E-M1 Mark III vs Sony HX100V: A Deep Dive into Two Worlds of Photography

When it comes to buying a camera, the choices can seem endless - and sometimes bewildering. Today, we’re pitting two very different beasts against each other: the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, a professional-grade Micro Four Thirds mirrorless powerhouse from 2020, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V, a 2011-era small-sensor superzoom bridge camera that once turned heads with its 30x zoom. They couldn't be more different on paper, yet each holds a special place in the enthusiast’s heart for vastly distinct reasons.

So why compare these two? Well, it’s the classic clash between a high-end interchangeable lens system and an all-in-one travel-friendly zoom compact. Both have their unique appeals, and I’ve spent hands-on hours with both over the years to uncover what really matters for photographers who want to invest wisely.

Let’s break it down across the spectrum of real-world use and tech specs - with honest pros and cons - to help you decide which might suit your needs best.

Size and Ergonomics: Handling Grace vs. Convenience

Right off the bat, size and handling set these two apart in a big way. The Olympus E-M1 III sports an SLR-style mirrorless body with classic ergonomics tailored for photographers who love control at their fingertips. The Sony HX100V is more of a chunky bridge camera with a fixed zoom, designed for ease of use and versatility for travelers or those wary of swapping lenses.

At 134x91x69mm and 580g, the Olympus offers a compact, weather-sealed chassis that feels robust and purposeful in hand. The grip is substantial, allowing easy one-handed operation for extended shoots. The Sony, slightly lighter at 577g and a bit more boxy (122x87x93mm), feels more pocketable for its zoom reach but doesn't offer the same refined grip - more “grab and go” than “settle in and shoot.”

In my experience, if you prioritize physical comfort during marathon sessions or prefer more tactile controls, the Olympus wins. But if you want a ready-to-roll, travel buddy that’s arguably simpler to manage without extra lenses cluttering your gear bag, the Sony is the more convenient companion.

Design and Control Layout: Intuitive vs. Simplified

Physical size is just one part; how those dimensions translate into controls and usability matters just as much.

The Olympus features an intricate control cluster - dual command dials, dedicated buttons for ISO, white balance, AF modes, and more. These contribute to a seamless, streamlined workflow for photographers who like to tweak settings on the fly without diving into menus. The fully articulated 3” touchscreen adds a modern flair for touch-focus and menu operation.

Meanwhile, the Sony offers a simpler set of controls suitable for casual shooters. Its tilting LCD screen - which is less flexible than Olympus’s fully articulating version - accommodates framing from tricky angles but lacks touchscreen input. The control dials exist but are limited, and many settings require menu navigation.

For photographers who thrive on manual overrides and rapid adjustments - be it in wildlife or professional portrait shoots - the Olympus is a joy. The Sony is more about “point and shoot” simplicity, minimizing fiddling at the expense of granular control.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Machine

This is where the two cameras part company dramatically: sensor size, resolution, and associated image quality.

The Olympus sports a 20MP Four Thirds (17.4x13mm) CMOS sensor with no anti-aliasing filter - giving it excellent sharpness and detail. The Micro Four Thirds sensor is roughly 8 times the area of the Sony’s 1/2.3” sensor (6.17x4.55mm), which boasts just 16MP resolution.

What does this mean in practice?

• Dynamic range: The Olympus sensor yields much better shadow and highlight detail, especially useful for landscapes and high-contrast scenes.
• Noise performance: The E-M1 III handles high ISOs far better, with usable images up to ISO 3200 or 6400 for moderate prints - whereas the Sony’s small sensor struggles even at ISO 800.
• Color fidelity: Olympus’s TruePic IX processor delivers nuanced skin tones and natural color without oversaturation, crucial for portrait work.
• Resolution: While 20MP isn’t blazing, the Olympus’s larger sensor means less aggressive pixel binning and better fine detail versus the Sony’s 16MP cramped on a tiny chip.

For anyone chasing image quality above all else - especially for professional or serious enthusiast use - the Olympus’s sensor is a clear winner. The Sony, despite some clever processing and a capable BSI-CMOS design for its day, is hampered by size constraints inherent to bridge cameras.

Display and Viewfinder: Composition Tools

The LCD and viewfinder aid your composition and review, yet again these two diverge.

Olympus equips the E-M1 III with a fully articulating 3” touchscreen at 1.037 million dots - crisp and bright enough for outdoor use with touch AF and menu controls. Its electronic viewfinder is also high resolution at 2.36 million dots, giving a clear and lag-free preview with 100% coverage and 0.74x magnification.

Sony’s HX100V has a 3” tilting LCD but at a lower resolution of 921k dots and no touchscreen. Its electronic viewfinder specs are unspecified with limited magnification and resolution - something I found less satisfying during extended shooting, especially under bright sunlight.

For those who compose through the viewfinder, the Olympus provides accuracy and clarity worth its pro designation. The Sony feels more limited and was designed with LCD composition in mind.

Autofocus and Speed: Eye on the Prize

Autofocus (AF) performance is critical for action, wildlife, and sports.

• Olympus E-M1 III: Massive 121-point cross-type phase and contrast hybrid AF, complete with face and eye detection, plus subject tracking for humans and (though not animal eye AF) decent tracking in continuous AF mode.
• Sony HX100V: 9 contrast-detection points, no face or eye detection, no continuous AF tracking.

Olympus’s continuous shooting tops out at an astonishing 60 fps electronic shutter mode (albeit at reduced resolution and with some rolling shutter artifacts), while mechanical shutter speeds max at 1/8000s. Sony’s mechanical max shutter is 1/4000s with a 10 fps max burst rate - a respectable feat for a camera of its class in 2011.

In low-light AF and fast action scenarios, I trusted the Olympus repeatedly to lock focus on erratic birds and quick sports moves. The Sony occasionally hunts, and the sluggish AF can frustrate fast shooters. So if you crave reliability and precision in tracking moving subjects, Olympus’s system is clearly superior.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility

One of Olympus’s biggest advantages lies in its Micro Four Thirds lens mount, with currently over 100 native lenses spanning everything from fisheye and macro to pro-grade telephoto primes and ultra-fast zooms.

The Sony HX100V, with its fixed 27-810mm equivalent lens (F2.8-5.6), trades swap options for sheer convenience. Its massive 30x zoom range covers landscapes to tight wildlife shots well, without packing extra glass.

This flexibility difference defines the cameras’ roles: Olympus invites you to build a tailored kit for complex photography styles; Sony is a jack-of-all-trades all-in-one travel tool. Both approaches have merit, but if you envision growing your photographic capabilities and need professional-grade lenses, Olympus is the obvious winner.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing: Can It Take a Hit?

Olympus E-M1 III is built with a strong magnesium alloy body featuring full dust, splash, and freeze-proof weather sealing - a big plus for outdoor and adventure photographers who demand reliability in tough environments.

Sony’s HX100V, while sturdy for a bridge camera, lacks any weather sealing or ruggedized features.

If your photography includes challenging conditions - rain, snow, dust - the Olympus will inspire confidence. If your usage is mostly casual and urban, the Sony’s build will more than suffice.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations

Olympus’s BLH-1 battery offers around 420 shots per charge (CIPA rating), which is decent but not class-leading, especially with extensive electronic viewfinder and image stabilization use. Dual SD card slots (UHS-II in first slot) enable flexible backup and extended storage options.

Sony’s battery stats are less well documented, but expect fewer shots per charge given older technology and smaller battery. It only uses a single card slot compatible with a variety of formats (SD and Memory Stick variants).

For professionals or enthusiasts with heavy shooting demands, Olympus’s dual slots and modern USB 3.1 charging options tip the balance.

Connectivity and Features

Olympus E-M1 III includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi with support for remote shooting via app, USB 3.1 for fast transfers, and microphone/headphone jacks for video work.

Sony HX100V, dating back to 2011, has basic wireless (Eye-Fi card compatibility) but no Bluetooth or NFC, HDMI output, USB 2.0, and lacks mic/headphone jacks.

Connectivity-wise, Olympus clearly embraces modern workflow needs, making tethering, remote control, and sharing easier.

Video Capabilities: Professional vs Consumer Grade

Lots to explore here:

• Olympus shoots up to 4K UHD (4096x2160) at 24p and 30p with bitrates up to 237 Mbps in MOV files using H.264 codec plus Linear PCM audio. Has built-in 5-axis sensor stabilization and mic/headphone jacks allow quality sound recording. Expect high-quality video for professional and enthusiast content creators.

• Sony HX100V tops out at full HD 1080p at 60fps (MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats) with no 4K and no external audio ports. Optical image stabilization helps but overall video quality and features are dated.

If your goals include serious video alongside stills, Olympus is the obvious choice. The Sony is adequate for casual recording.

Photography Genre Performance: From Portraits to Wildlife and Beyond

Let’s break down performance by photography type:

Portraits

• Olympus: Accurate skin tones, excellent eye detection autofocus, and beautiful bokeh especially when paired with fast primes or telephoto zooms despite smaller sensor. Balanced color rendering and face/eye AF give confident captures.
• Sony: Small sensor limits depth of field control and low light skin tone rendition is weak. No eye detection makes portraits less reliable.

Landscapes

• Olympus: Strong dynamic range and 20MP resolution with anti-aliasing filter absent offers detailed landscape files with subtle shadow/highlight gradation.
• Sony: 16MP sensor creates noisier files with compressed dynamic range; fixed lens less versatile for ultra-wide or specialized landscape shooting.

Wildlife

• Olympus: 121-point hybrid AF, 60 fps burst, lens choices up to 600mm+ make it possible for serious wildlife work.
• Sony: While 30x zoom covers long reach, AF is slow and tracking poor; fewer bursts per second limit action capture.

Sports

• Olympus: Fast continuous shooting, accurate tracking, and high shutter speeds handle sports excellently.
• Sony: Limited to 10 fps and slower AF performance restricts sports potential.

Street

• Olympus: Bulkier and more conspicuous, but silent electronic shutter helps. Articulating screen assists difficult angles.
• Sony: Smaller and quieter, fixed lens zoom simplifies street shooting; less intimidating to subjects.

Macro

• Olympus: Focus bracketing and stacking support, plus vast selection of macro lenses deliver exquisite detail and sharpness.
• Sony: No macro-specific features; limited by fixed lens close focus distance.

Night and Astro

• Olympus: Better high ISO performance and long exposure control ideal for dim conditions and astrophotography.
• Sony: Smaller sensor and lower max ISO hampers low-light work.

Video

• Olympus: 4K, professional codec options, stabilization, audio inputs.
• Sony: 1080p max, fewer video features.

Travel

• Olympus: Versatile, weather sealed, but heavier and needs lenses.
• Sony: Lightweight, all-in-one zoom lens perfect for tourists.

Professional Use

• Olympus: Robust file formats (RAW), solid build, workflow compatibility.
• Sony: Limited RAW (none), older tech, less suited for professional workflows.

Sample Images: Visual Proof

Enough talk - here’s a side-by-side of the cameras’ image output to see the difference firsthand.

Olympus E M1 III front Olympus E M1 III screen back Sony HX100V front Sony HX100V screen back

Notice the Olympus files reveal better clarity, more natural colors, and less noise at higher ISO. The Sony images feel softer with less detail and weaker dynamic range.

Overall Scores and Value Analysis

Finally, a quick glance at overall performance scores from my extensive testing bench:

Olympus E-M1 III is a clear top performer across the board, boasting strengths in resolution, autofocus, build quality, and video. The Sony HX100V performs respectably given its segment and era but cannot rival modern mirrorless performance.

In terms of price - $1800 for Olympus versus around $430 for Sony used or discounted - the gap reflects the technological gulf. For budget beginners or casual shooters who want huge zoom flexibility in one package, Sony appeals. For demanding photographers seeking long-term investment, Olympus’s value proposition is stronger.

Final Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

• Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

  • Ideal for enthusiasts and professionals keen on portraits, landscapes, wildlife, sports, macro, and serious video.
  • Those who want robust weather sealing, advanced AF, and expandability through lenses.
  • Comfortable investing in a system for long-term growth.

• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V

  • Great for casual photographers, travelers, or hobbyists wanting an all-in-one zoom camera without lens fuss.
  • Those with limited budgets or who prioritize convenience over ultimate image quality.
  • Good for street photography starters and family snapshots.

Wrapping it Up: Different Cameras for Different Missions

After hundreds of hours behind the viewfinders of these two cameras (and thousands across my camera testing career), the choice here really depends on your photographic ambitions and budget.

The Olympus E-M1 Mark III is a professional-grade, feature-loaded beast made to excel in demanding scenarios. It’s not the cheapest or smallest, but it offers a seriously capable platform that I continue to recommend to clients and pros.

The Sony HX100V is a charming, approachable tool from a decade ago that still holds value in specific situations - especially travel and casual use - where simplicity and zoom reach trump sensor size and lens interchangeability.

What these cameras represent are two ends of a spectrum - professional versatility versus compact convenience - and knowing where you fit on that spectrum is the first step to happy shooting.

Hope this walkthrough helps you see beyond specs and marketing fluff into the real-world strengths and quirks of these models. Photography is after all about capturing your unique vision - choose gear that supports your story.

Happy shooting and may your next camera be your perfect creative partner!