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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A700

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 front
Portability
58
Imaging
51
Features
58
Overall
53

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A700 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
  • Launched October 2013
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 II
Sony A700
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 768g - 142 x 105 x 80mm
  • Announced December 2007
  • Previous Model is Konica Minolta 7D
  • Refreshed by Sony A77
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A700 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A700, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and A700 (12MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and A700 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was announced 5 years after the A700 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A700 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-M1 matches up vs the A700 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony A700

 E-M1 A700 
AnnouncedOctober 2013December 2007Newer by 72 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k920kSharper screen (+117k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A700 over the Olympus E-M1

 A700 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A700

 E-M1 A700 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A700 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 has got 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) and the Sony A700 has specifications of 142mm x 105mm x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1") along with a weight of 768 grams (1.69 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A700 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M1 vs the A700.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A700 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and A700 is 71 and 58 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A700 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A700 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and A700.

Clearly, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Olympus E-M1 will offer greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more recent E-M1 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A700 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A700 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A700 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Sony A700
71
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
54
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Sony A700 as a Street photography camera
78
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
environment proof
lighter than others in class (497g)
good high ISO (25,600)
64
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography information
Sony A700 Sports photography information
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
terrible battery power (350 CIPA)
56
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
environment proof
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography advice
Sony A700 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than others in class (497g)
environment proof
offers focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
terrible battery power (350 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
49
environment proof
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A700 as a Landscape photography camera
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
terrible battery power (350 shots)
62
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
2 card slots
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging advice
Sony A700 Vlogging advice
36
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic jack
lighter than others in class (497g)
screen is not selfie friendly
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A700 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony A700
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
Category Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2013-10-28 2007-12-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.6x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 5.0 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
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, rear curtain, Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/320 seconds 1/250 seconds
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) -
Highest 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 lb) 768 grams (1.69 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 142 x 105 x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 66
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 11.9
DXO Low light rating 757 581
Other
Battery life 350 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots 1 Dual
Launch cost $799 $1,000