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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony RX100 IV Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Launched February 2020
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M1 II
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Introduced June 2015
  • Previous Model is Sony RX100 III
  • New Model is Sony RX100 V
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony RX100 IV, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 III (20MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is very well matched but the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and RX100 IV (1") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 III was unveiled 4 years after the RX100 IV which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-M1 III matches up against the RX100 IV in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Sony RX100 IV

 E-M1 III RX100 IV 
IntroducedFebruary 2020June 2015Newer by 57 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Olympus E-M1 III

 RX100 IV E-M1 III 
Display resolution1229k1037kClearer display (+192k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Sony RX100 IV

 E-M1 III RX100 IV 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 III comes with exterior measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 IV has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony RX100 IV in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M1 III against the RX100 IV.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 III and RX100 IV is 67 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to see the difference between sensor dimensions only by looking at specifications. The pic underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 III and RX100 IV.

Plainly, both the cameras feature the identical MP but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-M1 III has got the larger sensor which should make getting shallower DOF less difficult. The newer E-M1 III will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Portrait photography information
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography information
77
you can focus manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
65
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Street photography camera
78
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has focus via touch
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Sports photography camera
81
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (60.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
68
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (16.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
includes tracking autofocus
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Travel photography with Sony RX100 IV
79
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
has focus via touch
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
86
lighter than average in class (298g)
good resolution (20MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
relatively wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Landscape photography with Sony RX100 IV
81
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
no anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
two card slots
74
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Vlogging details
Sony RX100 IV Vlogging details
79
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
has external microphone socket
81
relatively wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than average in class (298 grams)
missing external microphone port
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Sony RX100 IV
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Type Pro Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2020-02-11 2015-06-10
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic IX Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 64 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 121 25
Cross type focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.59x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000s 1/32000s
Continuous shutter speed 60.0 frames per sec 16.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash settings Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 580 gr (1.28 lbs) 298 gr (0.66 lbs)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 562
Other
Battery life 420 images 280 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLH-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 Single
Pricing at release $1,800 $898