Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A390

Here, we are comparing the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A390, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the A390 (14MP) is very close but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and A390 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was unveiled 3 years after the A390 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-M1 matches up versus the A390 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A390. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-M1 Gallery and Sony A390 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 has external measurements 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 A390 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A390 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose during that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-M1 against the A390.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and A390 is 71 and 66 respectively.

Normally, it is hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through technical specs. The image here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and A390.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Olympus E-M1 will result in extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.