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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 II 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 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 RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Old Model is Sony RX100
  • Newer Model is Sony RX100 III
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 II Overview

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

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The E-M1 was revealed 5 months after the RX100 II so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-M1 matches up vs the RX100 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony RX100 II

 E-M1 RX100 II 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Olympus E-M1

 RX100 II E-M1 
Display resolution1229k1037kSharper display (+192k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony RX100 II

 E-M1 RX100 II 
LaunchedOctober 2013June 2013Same generation
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 features external dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Sony RX100 II has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M1 vs the RX100 II.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and RX100 II is 71 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by going through technical specs. The pic underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and RX100 II.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony RX100 II will show greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images a bit more aggressively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 II
71
you can focus manually
above average flash sync (1/320 seconds)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW files
70
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Sony RX100 II
78
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
environment proofing
lighter than competitors (497g)
good high ISO (25,600)
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than others in class (281g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Sports photography camera
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
not so great battery power (350 shots)
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
great battery (350 per charge)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography highlights
Sony RX100 II Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
environment proofing
comes with focus by touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
not so great battery power (350 CIPA)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
80
great battery (350 shots)
lighter than others in class (281 grams)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Sony RX100 II
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
not so great battery power (350 shots)
74
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
great battery (350 per charge)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 II as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone jack
lighter than competitors (497g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
37
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (281 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony RX100 II
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Category Pro Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-10-28 2013-06-27
Physical type 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 area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
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
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash settings 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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/320 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497g (1.10 lb) 281g (0.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 67
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 12.4
DXO Low light rating 757 483
Other
Battery life 350 shots 350 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch cost $799 $598