Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A35

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony A35, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the A35 (16MP) is fairly similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and A35 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 was launched 2 years later than the A35 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A35 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-M1 scores against the A35 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Sony SLT-A35. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-M1 Gallery and Sony A35 Gallery.

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 offers exterior measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony A35 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 415 grams (0.91 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony A35 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M1 versus the A35.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and A35 is 71 and 69 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's hard to visualise the gap between sensor measurements just by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and A35.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with the identical MP but not the same sensor measurements. The E-M1 comes with the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult. The newer E-M1 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.