Clicky

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A57

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A57 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
  • Launched October 2013
  • Updated by Olympus E-M1 II
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A55
  • Updated by Sony A58
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A57 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony A57, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and A57 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The E-M1 was unveiled 14 months after the A57 making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-M1 scores versus the A57 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony A57

 E-M1 A57 
LaunchedOctober 2013September 2012More modern by 14 months
Display resolution1037k921kClearer display (+116k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Olympus E-M1

 A57 E-M1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A57

 E-M1 A57 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 has outside dimensions 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 A57 has dimensions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") and a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M1 versus Sony A57 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M1 versus the A57.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and A57 is 71 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading through a spec sheet. The image here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and A57.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature the identical resolution but different sensor sizes. The E-M1 provides the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF more challenging. The newer E-M1 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A57 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/320 seconds)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Sony A57
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has touch to focus
environment sealing
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
75
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1
Sports photography with Sony A57
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (350 per charge)
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography information
Sony A57 Travel photography information
65
lighter than competition in class (497g)
environment sealing
has touch to focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
bad battery power (350 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
67
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
no Time Lapse mode
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography factors
Sony A57 Landscape photography factors
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
bad battery power (350 per charge)
72
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging info
Sony A57 Vlogging info
36
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone support
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
77
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic support
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony A57
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony SLT-A57
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2013-10-28 2012-09-13
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePIC VII -
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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 16000
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 81 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 12.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options 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 synchronize 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 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497g (1.10 pounds) 618g (1.36 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 75
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 13.0
DXO Low light score 757 785
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 550 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $799 $1,000