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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A450

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A450 front
Portability
65
Imaging
54
Features
52
Overall
53

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A450 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Sony A450
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 560g - 137 x 104 x 81mm
  • Introduced January 2010
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A450 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A450, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the A450 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and A450 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 was brought out 3 years later than the A450 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A450 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-M1 matches up vs the A450 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony A450

 E-M1 A450 
IntroducedOctober 2013January 2010More recent by 47 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A450 over the Olympus E-M1

 A450 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A450

 E-M1 A450 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A450 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 has got physical 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) and the Sony A450 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A450 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M1 and the A450.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A450 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and A450 is 71 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A450 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A450 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements only by looking at specs. The photograph underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and A450.

All in all, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh trickier and the Olympus E-M1 will resolve extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos far more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A450 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A450 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A450 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography info
Sony A450 Portrait photography info
71
has manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/320s)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
72
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Sony A450 as a Street photography camera
78
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features touch to focus
environment sealing
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography highlights
Sony A450 Sports photography highlights
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
terrible battery power (350 CIPA)
77
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good battery power (1,050 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Sony A450
65
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
environment sealing
features touch to focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
terrible battery power (350 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
60
good battery power (1,050 CIPA)
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Sony A450
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
terrible battery power (350 CIPA)
66
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (1,050 CIPA)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging features
Sony A450 Vlogging features
36
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic port
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
9
no video shooting
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A450 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony A450
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Alpha DSLR-A450
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A450
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-10-28 2010-01-05
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePIC VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias 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 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT Clear Photo Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, Fill, Rear Sync, Slow Sync, Wireless/ High Speed Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 grams (1.10 pounds) 560 grams (1.23 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 137 x 104 x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 66
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 11.8
DXO Low light rating 757 769
Other
Battery life 350 images 1050 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $799 $1,241