Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony HX9V

Following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-M1 III and Sony HX9V, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and HX9V (16MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and HX9V (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 III was revealed 8 years after the HX9V which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX9V being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the E-M1 III grades vs the HX9V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-M1 III Gallery & Sony HX9V Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 III has got physical dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) and the Sony HX9V has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 III and Sony HX9V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-M1 III versus the HX9V.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 III and HX9V is 67 and 91 respectively.

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes only by looking through a spec sheet. The image underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 III and HX9V.

As you can see, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 III having a larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-M1 III will render more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 III is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.