Olympus E-M1 vs Sony WX50

The following is a thorough assessment of the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony WX50, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the WX50 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and WX50 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-M1 was unveiled 22 months after the WX50 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony WX50 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-M1 matches up against the WX50 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-M1 Gallery and Sony WX50 Gallery.

If you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 has external 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 WX50 has proportions of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony WX50 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M1 compared to the WX50.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and WX50 is 71 and 96 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by checking technical specs. The picture here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and WX50.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature the identical resolution albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-M1 includes the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field simpler. The fresher E-M1 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.