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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A37

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A37 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
  • Released October 2013
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M1 II
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Released May 2012
  • Older Model is Sony A35
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A37 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A37, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the A37 (16MP) is fairly similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and A37 (APS-C) offer different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-M1 was brought out 18 months later than the A37 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-M1 grades versus the A37 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony A37

 E-M1 A37 
ReleasedOctober 2013May 2012Fresher by 18 months
Display dimensions3"2.6"Larger display (+0.4")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Olympus E-M1

 A37 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A37

 E-M1 A37 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 provides outside dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony A37 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A37 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 compared to the A37.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and A37 is 71 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading specs. The photograph here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and A37.

All in all, both the cameras have the same resolution but different sensor sizing. The E-M1 features the tinier sensor which should make getting shallower DOF trickier. The fresher E-M1 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Sony A37
71
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/320s)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW files
74
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography information
Sony A37 Street photography information
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has touch to focus
weather proof
lighter than others in class (497g)
good high ISO (25,600)
77
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography information
Sony A37 Sports photography information
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
has phase detect AF
low battery (350 shots)
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery power (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A37 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
weather proof
has touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
low battery (350 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
54
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (500 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Sony A37
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proof
low battery (350 CIPA)
64
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.6")
terrible battery power (500 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging features
Sony A37 Vlogging features
36
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone jack
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony A37
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony SLT-A37
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2013-10-28 2012-05-16
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 81 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.6 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/320 secs 1/160 secs
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, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497g (1.10 pounds) 506g (1.12 pounds)
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 All around score 73 75
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 12.9
DXO Low light score 757 799
Other
Battery life 350 images 500 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $799 $522