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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-7

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
Portability
84
Imaging
63
Features
71
Overall
66

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-7 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
  • Released October 2013
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M1 II
Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Announced December 2011
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus E-M1 and Sony NEX-7, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and NEX-7 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was brought out 23 months after the NEX-7 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-M1 matches up vs the NEX-7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony NEX-7

 E-M1 NEX-7 
AnnouncedOctober 2013December 2011Newer by 23 months
Screen resolution1037k921kSharper screen (+116k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Olympus E-M1

 NEX-7 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony NEX-7

 E-M1 NEX-7 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 enjoys outer measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Sony NEX-7 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1 and Sony NEX-7 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M1 vs the NEX-7.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and NEX-7 is 71 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to envision the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reading through a spec sheet. The picture below will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and NEX-7.

Clearly, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-7 will give greater detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-7 Portrait photography info
71
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/320s)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
77
focusing manually
decent MP (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Sony NEX-7
78
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers focus via touch
weather proofing
lighter than others (497 grams)
above average high ISO (25,600)
76
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Sports photography camera
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
not so great battery (350 per charge)
61
decent MP (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (430 shots)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-7 Travel photography info
65
lighter than others (497g)
weather proofing
offers focus via touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
not so great battery (350 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
70
better than average battery pack (430 per charge)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Landscape photography camera
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
not so great battery (350 CIPA)
72
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
decent MP (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (430 shots)
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Sony NEX-7
36
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic socket
lighter than others (497g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
35
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic port
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony NEX-7
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Alpha NEX-7
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Alpha NEX-7
Category Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2013-10-28 2011-12-13
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 16000
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
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, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/320 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497g (1.10 lbs) 400g (0.88 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 81
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 24.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 13.4
DXO Low light rating 757 1016
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 430 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $799 $699