Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX5

Here, we are looking at the Olympus E-M1 and Sony HX5, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and HX5 (1/2.4") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was revealed 3 years later than the HX5 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-M1 scores vs the HX5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-M1 Gallery and Sony HX5 Gallery.

If you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 has physical dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony HX5 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M1 and Sony HX5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M1 compared to the HX5.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and HX5 is 71 and 92 respectively.

Sometimes, it's tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specs. The graphic below might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and HX5.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus E-M1 will deliver extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-M1 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.