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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-600 UZ

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus SP-600 UZ front
Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
27
Overall
31

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-600 UZ Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Introduced October 2013
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus SP-600 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-420mm (F3.5-5.4) lens
  • 455g - 110 x 90 x 91mm
  • Launched February 2010
  • Replaced the Olympus SP-590 UZ
  • Renewed by Olympus SP-610UZ
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-600 UZ Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-600 UZ, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are sold by Olympus. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and SP-600 UZ (12MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and SP-600 UZ (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was launched 3 years after the SP-600 UZ which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-600 UZ being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-M1 grades vs the SP-600 UZ in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus SP-600 UZ

 E-M1 SP-600 UZ 
LaunchedOctober 2013February 2010More modern by 46 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-600 UZ over the Olympus E-M1

 SP-600 UZ E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus SP-600 UZ

 E-M1 SP-600 UZ 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-600 UZ Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 provides exterior measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Olympus SP-600 UZ has sizing of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") with a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-600 UZ in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M1 and the SP-600 UZ.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-600 UZ size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and SP-600 UZ is 71 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-600 UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-600 UZ Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to see the difference between sensor sizes merely by reviewing technical specs. The picture here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and SP-600 UZ.

As you have seen, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-M1 will offer more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-M1 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-600 UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-600 UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-600 UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SP-600 UZ as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/320s)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography features
Olympus SP-600 UZ Street photography features
78
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
environment proof
lighter than average (497 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
36
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography details
Olympus SP-600 UZ Sports photography details
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (350 per charge)
31
incredible zoom range (28-420mm 15.0 x zoom)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Olympus SP-600 UZ
65
lighter than average (497 grams)
environment proof
includes focus via touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
bad battery power (350 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
51
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
long zoom (420mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
MP count low (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography factors
Olympus SP-600 UZ Landscape photography factors
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
bad battery power (350 shots)
29
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging factors
Olympus SP-600 UZ Vlogging factors
36
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone jack
lighter than average (497 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
20
fairly wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SP-600 UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus SP-600 UZ
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus SP-600 UZ
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus SP-600 UZ
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-10-28 2010-02-02
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 81 143
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-420mm (15.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.4
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 1/2s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.10 m
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/320s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 grams (1.10 pounds) 455 grams (1.00 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 110 x 90 x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (12 or 2 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $799 $189