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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VR-340

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus VR-340 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VR-340 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 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
  • Released October 2013
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus VR-340
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.0-5.7) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VR-340 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus E-M1 versus Olympus VR-340, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both offered by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the VR-340 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and VR-340 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 was announced 22 months after the VR-340 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-M1 grades versus the VR-340 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus VR-340

 E-M1 VR-340 
IntroducedOctober 2013January 2012Newer by 22 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Olympus E-M1

 VR-340 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus VR-340

 E-M1 VR-340 
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VR-340 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 has got outer measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Olympus VR-340 has measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 versus Olympus VR-340 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-M1 against the VR-340.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VR-340 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and VR-340 is 71 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VR-340 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VR-340 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions merely by looking at specifications. The pic underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and VR-340.

To sum up, the two cameras feature the identical resolution albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 comes with the bigger sensor which will make getting shallow DOF less difficult. The younger E-M1 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VR-340 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VR-340 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VR-340 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography information
Olympus VR-340 Portrait photography information
71
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus VR-340 as a Street photography camera
78
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports touch to focus
environment proofing
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
above average high ISO (25,600)
63
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (125g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1
Sports photography with Olympus VR-340
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
not so great battery (350 per charge)
44
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography information
Olympus VR-340 Travel photography information
65
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
environment proofing
supports touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
not so great battery (350 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than others in class (125 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography features
Olympus VR-340 Landscape photography features
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
not so great battery (350 per charge)
43
really wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Olympus VR-340
36
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone socket
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
33
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
lighter than others in class (125g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus VR-340 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus VR-340
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus VR-340
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus VR-340
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-10-28 2012-01-10
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 81 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-240mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-5.7
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.80 m
Flash settings 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, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 gr (1.10 pounds) 125 gr (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $799 $130