Olympus E-M1 vs Samsung NX1

Following is a complete review of the Olympus E-M1 and Samsung NX1, both Pro Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Samsung. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and NX1 (28MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and NX1 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-M1 was manufactured 10 months earlier than the NX1 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-M1 matches up versus the NX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M1 & Samsung NX1. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-M1 Gallery & Samsung NX1 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 comes with outer dimensions 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 Samsung NX1 has specifications of 139mm x 102mm x 66mm (5.5" x 4.0" x 2.6") and a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 and Samsung NX1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M1 compared to the NX1.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and NX1 is 71 and 66 respectively.

More often than not, it is very tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes just by reading through specifications. The pic underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and NX1.

To sum up, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Samsung NX1 will give extra detail due to its extra 12MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos more aggressively. The more aged E-M1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.