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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 front
Portability
58
Imaging
51
Features
76
Overall
61

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Sony RX10
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8) lens
  • 813g - 129 x 88 x 102mm
  • Released March 2014
  • New Model is Sony RX10 II
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-M1 and Sony RX10, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the RX10 (20MP) is pretty comparable but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and RX10 (1") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was revealed 4 months before the RX10 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX10 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-M1 matches up against the RX10 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony RX10

 E-M1 RX10 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 over the Olympus E-M1

 RX10 E-M1 
Screen resolution1290k1037kCrisper screen (+253k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony RX10

 E-M1 RX10 
ReleasedOctober 2013March 2014Same generation
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 has outer 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) and the Sony RX10 has proportions of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") along with a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 and Sony RX10 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have during that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-M1 and the RX10.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and RX10 is 71 and 58 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions just by going through specs. The image below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and RX10.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony RX10 will produce more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography info
Sony RX10 Portrait photography info
71
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
70
has manual focus
good MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
offers face detect focus
supports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX10 as a Street photography camera
78
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
has focus via touch
environment sealing
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
72
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
weather proof
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX10 as a Sports photography camera
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
bad battery life (350 per charge)
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
weather proof
better than average battery pack (420 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Sony RX10
65
lighter than competitors (497g)
environment sealing
has focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
bad battery life (350 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
58
better than average battery pack (420 per charge)
weather proof
good MP (20MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography advice
Sony RX10 Landscape photography advice
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
bad battery life (350 shots)
63
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
weather proof
better than average battery pack (420 per charge)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging advice
Sony RX10 Vlogging advice
36
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic jack
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
30
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone socket
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony RX10
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
Type Pro Mirrorless Large Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-10-28 2014-03-20
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePIC VII Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-200mm (8.3x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 1,290 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - WhiteMagic
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/3200s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.20 m
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, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/320s -
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, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 grams (1.10 lbs) 813 grams (1.79 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 129 x 88 x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 69
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 12.6
DXO Low light score 757 474
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 420 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $799 $698