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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Alpha A7 front
Portability
78
Imaging
70
Features
80
Overall
74

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M1 II
Sony A7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Newer Model is Sony A7 II
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7, both Pro Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and A7 (24MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and A7 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 was brought out 2 months prior to the A7 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-M1 scores vs the A7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony A7

 E-M1 A7 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Olympus E-M1

 A7 E-M1 
Screen resolution1230k1037kClearer screen (+193k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A7

 E-M1 A7 
LaunchedOctober 2013January 2014Similar generation
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 comes with external measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Sony A7 has proportions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") and a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the E-M1 vs the A7.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and A7 is 71 and 78 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing merely by reviewing specifications. The graphic here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and A7.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Sony A7 will offer you greater detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography factors
Sony A7 Portrait photography factors
71
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/320s)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
82
manual focus
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography details
Sony A7 Street photography details
78
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
weather sealing
lighter than average (497 grams)
above average ISO range (25,600)
79
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
lighter than competition (474g)
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography info
Sony A7 Sports photography info
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery life (350 per charge)
66
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
low fps (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low battery (340 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography details
Sony A7 Travel photography details
65
lighter than average (497 grams)
weather sealing
comes with focus by touch
good resolution (16MP)
low battery life (350 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition (474g)
weather proofing
decent MP (24 megapixels)
low battery (340 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Sony A7
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
low battery life (350 CIPA)
75
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
lack of image stabilization
low battery (340 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging features
Sony A7 Vlogging features
36
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic socket
lighter than average (497 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
35
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone jack
lighter than competition (474 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony A7
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Alpha A7
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Alpha A7
Class Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2013-10-28 2014-01-22
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 50
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 81 117
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 1,230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/320 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lb) 474 gr (1.04 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 90
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 24.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 14.2
DXO Low light score 757 2248
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 340 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $799 $798