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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A380

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A380 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
  • Introduced October 2013
  • Successor is Olympus E-M1 II
Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A350
  • Replacement is Sony A390
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A380 Overview

Following is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony A380, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the A380 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and A380 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 was announced 4 years after the A380 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-M1 matches up against the A380 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony A380

 E-M1 A380 
IntroducedOctober 2013August 2009More modern by 51 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Olympus E-M1

 A380 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A380

 E-M1 A380 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A380 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 offers external dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Sony A380 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony A380 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M1 compared to the A380.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A380 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and A380 is 71 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A380 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A380 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to see the gap between sensor sizes merely by looking at specifications. The picture underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and A380.

Plainly, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 using its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh harder and the Olympus E-M1 will resolve more detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The newer E-M1 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A380 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A380 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography features
Sony A380 Portrait photography features
71
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320 seconds)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
71
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Sony A380
78
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
includes focus by touch
environment proofing
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
76
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography advice
Sony A380 Sports photography advice
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect auto focus
low battery (350 per charge)
59
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
not so great battery (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography details
Sony A380 Travel photography details
65
lighter than others in class (497g)
environment proofing
includes focus by touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
low battery (350 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
53
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (500 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Sony A380
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
low battery (350 CIPA)
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
not so great battery (500 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging information
Sony A380 Vlogging information
36
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic port
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
9
no video recording
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony A380
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2013-10-28 2009-08-24
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePIC VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
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
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/320s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lb) 519 gr (1.14 lb)
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 All around score 73 67
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 11.8
DXO Low light score 757 614
Other
Battery life 350 photos 500 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $799 $899