Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7
71 Imaging
53 Features
85 Overall
65
![Olympus OM-D E-M1 front Olympus OM-D E-M1 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Olympus-OM-D-E-M1/Olympus-E-M1-front.jpg)
![Sony Alpha A7 front Sony Alpha A7 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Sony-Alpha-A7/Sony-A7-front.jpg)
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
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
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.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tiktok-218x150.jpg)
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.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
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.![Camera Size Comparison with Lenses Camera Size Comparison with Lenses](https://pxlmag.com/db/assets/camera-size-comparison-animation.gif)
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 Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-OM-D-E-M1-vs-Sony-Alpha-A7-size-comparison.jpg)
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 top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-OM-D-E-M1-vs-Sony-Alpha-A7-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
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 sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Olympus-OM-D-E-M1-vs-Sony-Alpha-A7-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 Screen and ViewFinder
![Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-OM-D-E-M1-vs-Sony-Alpha-A7-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ai-licence-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
Street Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
Sports Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Approach-to-AI-Generated-Content-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
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 |