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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony H20

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
29
Overall
31

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony H20 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
  • Announced October 2013
  • Successor is Olympus E-M1 II
Sony H20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
  • 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
  • Revealed May 2009
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony H20 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus E-M1 and Sony H20, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and H20 (10MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and H20 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 was introduced 4 years after the H20 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony H20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-M1 scores versus the H20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony H20

 E-M1 H20 
RevealedOctober 2013May 2009More modern by 55 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Olympus E-M1

 H20 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony H20

 E-M1 H20 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 has got outside dimensions 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 H20 has measurements of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 and Sony H20 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M1 compared to the H20.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony H20 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and H20 is 71 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony H20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizes only by going through technical specs. The image underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and H20.

As you have seen, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 with its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 will provide more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony H20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony H20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Sony H20
71
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
27
focusing manually
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Sony H20
78
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus by touch
weather proof
lighter than competition in class (497g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than competition (250g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony H20 as a Sports photography camera
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (350 per charge)
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography information
Sony H20 Travel photography information
65
lighter than competition in class (497g)
weather proof
features focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
not so great battery life (350 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
51
has built in flash
long reach (380mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (250 grams)
low megapixels (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography info
Sony H20 Landscape photography info
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
not so great battery life (350 shots)
36
focusing manually
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Sony H20
36
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone socket
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic jack
heavier than competition (250 grams)
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony H20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony H20
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-10-28 2009-05-14
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 38-380mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-4.4
Macro focusing range - 2cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash settings 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 reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 grams (1.10 lbs) 250 grams (0.55 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $799 $249