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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 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
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 II
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 II
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the RX100 (20MP) is fairly similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and RX100 (1") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was launched 15 months after the RX100 making them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-M1 grades versus the RX100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony RX100

 E-M1 RX100 
AnnouncedOctober 2013August 2012More modern by 15 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Olympus E-M1

 RX100 E-M1 
Display resolution1229k1037kClearer display (+192k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony RX100

 E-M1 RX100 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 has got 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) while the Sony RX100 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-M1 against the RX100.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and RX100 is 71 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading specs. The pic here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and RX100.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Sony RX100 will deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The younger E-M1 will have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography factors
Sony RX100 Portrait photography factors
71
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/320s)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
64
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography information
Sony RX100 Street photography information
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
weather proof
lighter than average in class (497g)
good ISO range (25,600)
79
image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Sports photography camera
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low battery power (350 per charge)
65
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
supports tracking autofocus
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography features
Sony RX100 Travel photography features
65
lighter than average in class (497g)
weather proof
offers touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
low battery power (350 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
79
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
good resolution (20MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX100 Landscape photography highlights
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
low battery power (350 CIPA)
74
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Sony RX100
36
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes microphone jack
lighter than average in class (497g)
screen is not selfie friendly
38
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (240g)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony RX100
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Type Pro Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-10-28 2012-08-28
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing 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 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
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, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/320 seconds 1/2000 seconds
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lbs) 240 gr (0.53 lbs)
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 All around score 73 66
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 12.4
DXO Low light score 757 390
Other
Battery life 350 images 330 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $799 $448