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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX30

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX30 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
  • Released October 2013
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Announced September 2014
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX30 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony QX30, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Lens-style by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the QX30 (20MP) is very well matched but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and QX30 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was manufactured 10 months prior to the QX30 so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-M1 scores against the QX30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony QX30

 E-M1 QX30 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution1037k0kCrisper display (+1037k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Olympus E-M1

 QX30 E-M1 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014October 2013Fresher by 10 months

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony QX30

 E-M1 QX30 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 enjoys outside 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 QX30 has specifications of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony QX30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-M1 vs the QX30.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and QX30 is 71 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing purely by checking specifications. The graphic underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and QX30.

Plainly, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Sony QX30 will resolve more detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older E-M1 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Sony QX30
71
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/320s)
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
38
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography highlights
Sony QX30 Street photography highlights
78
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features focus by touch
environment proof
lighter than others (497 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
62
image stabilization (Optical)
has focus by touch
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Sports photography camera
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
terrible battery (350 shots)
47
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography information
Sony QX30 Travel photography information
65
lighter than others (497g)
environment proof
features focus by touch
good megapixels (16MP)
terrible battery (350 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
65
has focus by touch
decent megapixels (20MP)
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery (200 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography advice
Sony QX30 Landscape photography advice
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment proof
terrible battery (350 CIPA)
39
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (")
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery (200 shots)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony QX30 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic jack
lighter than others (497 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
35
rather wide (24mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony QX30
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Category Pro Mirrorless Lens-style
Released 2013-10-28 2014-09-03
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Lens-style
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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
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 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" -
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 0k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual None
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lb) 193 gr (0.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
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 shots 200 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $799 $348