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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX1

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Alpha QX1 front
Portability
90
Imaging
63
Features
48
Overall
57

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX1 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Released October 2013
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M1 II
Sony QX1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 216g - 74 x 70 x 53mm
  • Released September 2014
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX1 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony QX1, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Lens-style by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the QX1 (20MP) is pretty well matched but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and QX1 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was manufactured 10 months before the QX1 which means that they are of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX1 being a Lens-style camera.

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-M1 grades against the QX1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony QX1

 E-M1 QX1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution1037k0kSharper screen (+1037k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX1 over the Olympus E-M1

 QX1 E-M1 
ReleasedSeptember 2014October 2013More modern by 10 months

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony QX1

 E-M1 QX1 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 offers outside dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Sony QX1 has sizing of 74mm x 70mm x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1") along with a weight of 216 grams (0.48 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony QX1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M1 vs the QX1.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and QX1 is 71 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes merely by looking at specs. The pic here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and QX1.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Sony QX1 will give you greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-M1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography factors
Sony QX1 Portrait photography factors
71
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/320s)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
66
you can focus manually
decent MP (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
saves RAW files
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Sony QX1 as a Street photography camera
78
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
weather proof
lighter than competitors (497g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
69
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
offers touch to focus
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (216g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1
Sports photography with Sony QX1
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
56
decent MP (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery (440 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography details
Sony QX1 Travel photography details
65
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
weather proof
comes with focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
great battery (440 CIPA)
offers touch to focus
decent MP (20MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (216 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography info
Sony QX1 Landscape photography info
73
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
64
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent MP (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
great battery (440 CIPA)
screen is small (")
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging info
Sony QX1 Vlogging info
36
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone port
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
32
touchscreen functionality
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone port
more heavy than competition (216 grams)
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony QX1
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Alpha QX1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Alpha QX1
Type Pro Mirrorless Lens-style
Released 2013-10-28 2014-09-03
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 25600 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.6
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch -
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 0 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 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 Off, auto, fill, slow sync, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/320s -
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) 1920 x 1080 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 grams (1.10 lb) 216 grams (0.48 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 74 x 70 x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos 440 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $799 $500