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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 II

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II front
Portability
58
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 II 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M1 II
Sony RX10 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8) lens
  • 813g - 129 x 88 x 102mm
  • Revealed June 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony RX10
  • Replacement is Sony RX10 III
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 II Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M1 and Sony RX10 II, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the RX10 II (20MP) is fairly similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and RX10 II (1") use totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 was brought out 19 months earlier than the RX10 II making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX10 II being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-M1 grades vs the RX10 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony RX10 II

 E-M1 RX10 II 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 II over the Olympus E-M1

 RX10 II E-M1 
RevealedJune 2015October 2013Fresher by 19 months
Display resolution1229k1037kClearer display (+192k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony RX10 II

 E-M1 RX10 II 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 II Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 comes with exterior measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Sony RX10 II has dimensions of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") accompanied by a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 and Sony RX10 II in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-M1 against the RX10 II.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and RX10 II is 71 and 58 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 II Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing only by reviewing specs. The photograph here may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and RX10 II.

All in all, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony RX10 II will deliver greater detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older E-M1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 II Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography info
Sony RX10 II Portrait photography info
71
manual focus
high flash sync (1/320s)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW files
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography factors
Sony RX10 II Street photography factors
78
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers focus by touch
weather proof
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
72
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW formats
weather proof
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography details
Sony RX10 II Sports photography details
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect AF
not so great battery pack (350 per charge)
68
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
includes tracking focus
weather proof
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography features
Sony RX10 II Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
weather proof
offers focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
not so great battery pack (350 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
56
weather proof
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography features
Sony RX10 II Landscape photography features
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proof
not so great battery pack (350 shots)
62
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW formats
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX10 II as a Vlogging camera
36
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone support
lighter than competition in class (497g)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
31
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with microphone port
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX10 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony RX10 II
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
Class Pro Mirrorless Large Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-10-28 2015-06-10
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor 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 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-200mm (8.3x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per sec 14.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 gr (1.10 pounds) 813 gr (1.79 pounds)
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 All around rating 73 70
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 12.6
DXO Low light rating 757 531
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 400 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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
Storage slots One One
Retail price $799 $998