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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7R IV

Portability
71 Imaging
53 Features
85 Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Alpha A7R IV front
Portability
62 Imaging
81 Features
93 Overall
85

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7R IV Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Released October 2013
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 II
Sony A7R IV
(Full Review)
  • 61MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Bump to 102800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 665g - 129 x 96 x 78mm
  • Launched July 2019
  • Succeeded the Sony A7R III
  • Later Model is Sony A7R V
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7R IV Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7R IV, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and A7R IV (61MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and A7R IV (Full frame) use totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-M1 was launched 6 years earlier than the A7R IV which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-M1 scores vs the A7R IV when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony A7R IV

		

		

			
 E-M1 A7R IV 
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Sony A7R IV over the Olympus E-M1

		

		

			
 A7R IV E-M1 
LaunchedJuly 2019October 2013More modern by 69 months
Screen resolution1440k1037kSharper screen (+403k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A7R IV

		

		

			
 E-M1 A7R IV 
Manually focus  Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen  Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen  Quickly navigate
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7R IV Physical Comparison

		

		

			
In case you're intending to carry around your camera often, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 has got outer measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony A7R IV has proportions of 129mm x 96mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 665 grams (1.47 lbs).
Check out the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7R IV in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-M1 against the A7R IV.
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7R IV size comparison
Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and A7R IV is 71 and 62 respectively.
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7R IV top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7R IV Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
In many cases, it is hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes only by viewing specifications. The pic here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and A7R IV.
To sum up, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 due to its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Sony A7R IV will result in extra detail utilizing its extra 45 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged E-M1 will be behind in sensor innovation.
	
			Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7R IV sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7R IV Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7R IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography features
Sony A7R IV Portrait photography features
71
 focusing manually
 above average flash sync speed (1/320s)
 megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 comes with face detection focusing
 delivers RAW formats
88
 focusing manually
 excellent megapixels (61 megapixels)
 sensor size is large (Full frame)
 includes face detection autofocus
 delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison
Olympus E-M1 Street photography advice
Sony A7R IV Street photography advice
78
 has a tilting screen
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 delivers RAW formats
 offers touch focus
 weather proof
 lighter than competitors (497g)
 above average high ISO (25,600)
79
 has a tilting screen
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 sensor size is large (Full frame)
 delivers RAW formats
 offers touch focus
 environment proofing
 good high ISO (32,000)
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Sports Comparison
Olympus E-M1 Sports photography factors
Sony A7R IV Sports photography factors
70
 max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 megapixel count decent (16MP)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 comes with tracking autofocus
 weather proof
 sensor has phase detect AF
 terrible battery life (350 per charge)
90
 max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 excellent megapixels (61MP)
 sensor size is large (Full frame)
 includes tracking autofocus
 environment proofing
 better than average battery life (670 shots)
 sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison
Olympus E-M1 Travel photography info
Sony A7R IV Travel photography info
65
 lighter than competitors (497 grams)
 weather proof
 offers touch focus
 megapixel count decent (16MP)
 terrible battery life (350 shots)
 does not have a selfie friendly screen
74
 better than average battery life (670 shots)
 environment proofing
 supports bluetooth
 offers touch focus
 excellent megapixels (61 megapixels)
 does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison
 Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
 Sony A7R IV as a Landscape photography camera
73
 focusing manually
 swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 screen size is decent (3 inch)
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 megapixel count decent (16MP)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 above average high ISO (25,600)
 delivers RAW formats
 weather proof
 terrible battery life (350 CIPA)
88
 focusing manually
 switch lenses (Sony E mount)
 good sized screen (3")
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 excellent megapixels (61 megapixels)
 sensor size is large (Full frame)
 doesnt have low pass filter
 good high ISO (32,000)
 delivers RAW formats
 environment proofing
 better than average battery life (670 CIPA)
 has dual storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison
Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Sony A7R IV
36
 touchscreen
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 comes with face detection focusing
 high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 includes external microphone socket
 lighter than competitors (497g)
 does not have a selfie friendly screen
37
 screen is touchscreen
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 includes face detection autofocus
 video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
 includes external microphone jack
 does not contain selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A7R IV Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony A7R IV
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Alpha A7R IV
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Alpha A7R IV
Category Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2013-10-28 2019-07-16
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePIC VII Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 61 megapixel
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 9504 x 6336
Max native ISO 25600 32000
Max enhanced ISO - 102800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images    
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing    
AF touch    
Continuous AF    
AF single    
AF tracking    
AF selectice    
AF center weighted    
AF multi area    
Live view AF    
Face detect focusing    
Contract detect focusing    
Phase detect focusing    
Total focus points 81 567
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch function    
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot 5,760k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB    
Image stabilization    
Inbuilt flash    
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync.
Hot shoe    
AE bracketing    
White balance bracketing    
Fastest flash sync 1/320s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure    
Average exposure    
Spot exposure    
Partial exposure    
AF area exposure    
Center weighted exposure    
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264
Microphone input    
Headphone input    
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lb) 665 gr (1.47 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 129 x 96 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 99
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 14.8
DXO Low light rating 757 3344
Other
Battery life 350 shots 670 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse feature    
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compatible)
Storage slots Single 2
Cost at release $799 $3,498