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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A35

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony SLT-A35 front
Portability
69
Imaging
57
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A35 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Updated by Olympus E-M1 II
Sony A35
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 415g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Succeeded the Sony A33
  • Replacement is Sony A37
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A35 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony A35

 E-M1 A35 
IntroducedOctober 2013September 2011More recent by 26 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k921kClearer display (+116k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A35 over the Olympus E-M1

 A35 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A35

 E-M1 A35 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A35 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A35 size comparison

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

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A35 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A35 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A35 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A35 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A35 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography details
Sony A35 Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
high flash sync (1/320s)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Sony A35
78
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers touch focus
environment sealing
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
71
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors (415g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography features
Sony A35 Sports photography features
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery pack (350 per charge)
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery life (440 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography details
Sony A35 Travel photography details
65
lighter than competition in class (497g)
environment sealing
offers touch focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
not so great battery pack (350 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly display
59
lighter than competitors (415g)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (440 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Sony A35
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
not so great battery pack (350 per charge)
69
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
terrible battery life (440 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging information
Sony A35 Vlogging information
36
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic jack
lighter than competition in class (497g)
does not have selfie friendly display
36
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic socket
lighter than competitors (415 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A35 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony A35
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony SLT-A35
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony SLT-A35
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2013-10-28 2011-09-20
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes 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, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/320 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 497 gr (1.10 lbs) 415 gr (0.91 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 74
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 12.7
DXO Low light rating 757 763
Other
Battery life 350 images 440 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $799 $598