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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A330

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 front
Portability
67
Imaging
50
Features
50
Overall
50

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A330 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
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 II
Sony A330
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 529g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A300
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A330 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony A330, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and A330 (10MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and A330 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 was released 4 years after the A330 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A330 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-M1 grades versus the A330 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony A330

 E-M1 A330 
IntroducedOctober 2013May 2009Newer by 55 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A330 over the Olympus E-M1

 A330 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A330

 E-M1 A330 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A330 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 features exterior dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Sony A330 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 529 grams (1.17 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony A330 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the E-M1 compared to the A330.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A330 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and A330 is 71 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A330 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A330 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions purely by seeing specs. The pic below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and A330.

All in all, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 due to its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Olympus E-M1 will show more detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A330 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A330 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A330 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Sony A330
71
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/320s)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
62
has manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
MP count low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography features
Sony A330 Street photography features
78
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
features focus via touch
weather sealing
lighter than average (497g)
great high ISO (25,600)
75
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography features
Sony A330 Sports photography features
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (350 per charge)
50
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
MP count low (10MP)
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography highlights
Sony A330 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than average (497g)
weather sealing
features focus via touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (350 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
44
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
MP count low (10MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography advice
Sony A330 Landscape photography advice
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
terrible battery pack (350 CIPA)
54
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
MP count low (10MP)
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging info
Sony A330 Vlogging info
36
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic support
lighter than average (497g)
display isn't selfie friendly
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A330 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony A330
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2013-10-28 2009-05-18
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/320s 1/160s
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497g (1.10 lbs) 529g (1.17 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 64
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 22.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 11.5
DXO Low light rating 757 535
Other
Battery life 350 shots 230 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $799 $545