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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony a3500

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony a3500 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
  • Introduced October 2013
  • Updated by Olympus E-M1 II
Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Launched March 2014
  • Older Model is Sony A3000
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony a3500 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony a3500, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is fairly close but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and a3500 (APS-C) boast different sensor size.

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The E-M1 was released 4 months prior to the a3500 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras feature the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-M1 scores against the a3500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony a3500

 E-M1 a3500 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Olympus E-M1

 a3500 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony a3500

 E-M1 a3500 
LaunchedOctober 2013March 2014Same generation
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 features outer measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Sony a3500 has specifications of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony a3500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-M1 versus the a3500.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and a3500 is 71 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing purely by researching specifications. The photograph underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and a3500.

To sum up, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony a3500 will render more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics way more aggressively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
above average flash sync (1/320s)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
77
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography advice
Sony a3500 Street photography advice
78
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides touch focus
weather proofing
lighter than others in class (497g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
57
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1
Sports photography with Sony a3500
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
terrible battery power (350 shots)
60
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
great battery life (470 shots)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography factors
Sony a3500 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than others in class (497g)
weather proofing
provides touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
terrible battery power (350 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
60
great battery life (470 CIPA)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (411g)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography info
Sony a3500 Landscape photography info
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
terrible battery power (350 per charge)
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (470 CIPA)
no image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Sony a3500
36
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone port
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
26
has face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (411 grams)
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony a3500
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Alpha a3500
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-10-28 2014-03-21
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 25600 16000
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.47x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/320 seconds 1/160 seconds
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) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497g (1.10 lbs) 411g (0.91 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 470 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $799 $398