Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7
71 Imaging
52 Features
85 Overall
65
78 Imaging
70 Features
80 Overall
74
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 Key Specs
(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
(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
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.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesThe 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.
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Sony Alpha A7. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-M1 Gallery and Sony A7 Gallery.
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 resolution | 1230k | 1037k | Clearer screen (+193k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A7
E-M1 | A7 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | October 2013 | January 2014 | Similar generation | |
Focus manually | Very exact focusing | |||
Screen type | Tilting | Tilting | Tilting screen | |
Screen dimensions | 3" | 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.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.
Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and A7 is 71 and 78 respectively.
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 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 Specifications
Olympus OM-D E-M1 | Sony 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 |