Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX9V

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX9V, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the HX9V (16MP) is pretty comparable but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and HX9V (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-M1 was manufactured 2 years after the HX9V which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX9V being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-M1 grades against the HX9V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-M1 Gallery and Sony HX9V Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 comes with exterior 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) whilst the Sony HX9V has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX9V 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 choose at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M1 compared to the HX9V.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and HX9V is 71 and 91 respectively.

Normally, it is very hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by checking out technical specs. The pic below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and HX9V.

As you have seen, both of the cameras posses the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor sizes. The E-M1 comes with the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult. The fresher E-M1 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.