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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX90V

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
63
Overall
51

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX90V 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M1 II
Sony HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched April 2015
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX90V Overview

Below is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-M1 and Sony HX90V, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the HX90V (18MP) is fairly close but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and HX90V (1/2.3") posses different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 was introduced 17 months prior to the HX90V making them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX90V being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-M1 grades against the HX90V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony HX90V

 E-M1 HX90V 
Display resolution1037k921kClearer display (+116k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Olympus E-M1

 HX90V E-M1 
LaunchedApril 2015October 2013More recent by 17 months
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony HX90V

 E-M1 HX90V 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX90V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 comes with external dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Sony HX90V has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M1 and Sony HX90V in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-M1 against the HX90V.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX90V size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and HX90V is 71 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX90V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX90V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements only by researching technical specs. The visual underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and HX90V.

As you can tell, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony HX90V will render more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-M1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX90V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX90V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX90V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography info
Sony HX90V Portrait photography info
71
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/320 seconds)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
45
manual focus
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography factors
Sony HX90V Street photography factors
78
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch focus
weather proof
lighter than competitors in class (497g)
great high ISO (25,600)
69
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (245 grams)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography information
Sony HX90V Sports photography information
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
low battery life (350 CIPA)
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery life (360 per charge)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX90V as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competitors in class (497 grams)
weather proof
comes with touch focus
MP count decent (16MP)
low battery life (350 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
76
great battery life (360 shots)
lighter than average (245g)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
rather wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX90V as a Landscape photography camera
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
low battery life (350 CIPA)
53
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
great battery life (360 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging advice
Sony HX90V Vlogging advice
36
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic support
lighter than competitors in class (497g)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
75
rather wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (245g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX90V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony HX90V
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-10-28 2015-04-14
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot 638k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.5x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497g (1.10 pounds) 245g (0.54 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs 360 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $799 $440