Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX80

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M1 and Sony HX80, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the HX80 (18MP) is fairly comparable but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and HX80 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The E-M1 was revealed 3 years prior to the HX80 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX80 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-M1 matches up versus the HX80 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-M1 Gallery and Sony HX80 Gallery.

If you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 has exterior dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony HX80 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M1 and Sony HX80 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the E-M1 against the HX80.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and HX80 is 71 and 91 respectively.

Often, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions purely by seeing a spec sheet. The picture here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and HX80.

As you can see, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 using its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX80 will show extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos more aggressively. The more aged E-M1 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.