Olympus E-M1 vs Ricoh CX4

Here, we will be matching up the Olympus E-M1 vs Ricoh CX4, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Ricoh. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and CX4 (10MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and CX4 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-M1 was unveiled 3 years later than the CX4 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Ricoh CX4 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-M1 matches up against the CX4 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Ricoh CX4. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-M1 Gallery and Ricoh CX4 Gallery.

When you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 has physical dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Ricoh CX4 has sizing of 102mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M1 vs Ricoh CX4 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M1 versus the CX4.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and CX4 is 71 and 92 respectively.

Typically, it is difficult to see the difference between sensor sizing simply by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and CX4.

Clearly, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 will resolve extra detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-M1 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.