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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A68

Portability
71
Imaging
52
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony SLT-A68 front
Portability
64
Imaging
66
Features
70
Overall
67

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A68 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • New Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Sony A68
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 610g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Released November 2015
  • Superseded the Sony A65
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A68 Overview

Below is a comprehensive review of the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A68, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and A68 (24MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and A68 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 was unveiled 24 months before the A68 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A68 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-M1 matches up against the A68 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony A68

 E-M1 A68 
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k461kSharper screen (+576k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A68 over the Olympus E-M1

 A68 E-M1 
ReleasedNovember 2015October 2013More recent by 24 months

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A68

 E-M1 A68 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A68 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 has outer 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) while the Sony A68 has sizing of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 610 grams (1.34 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A68 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the E-M1 versus the A68.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A68 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and A68 is 71 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A68 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A68 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements just by reviewing specs. The graphic below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and A68.

All in all, each of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Sony A68 will deliver extra detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The older E-M1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A68 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A68 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A68 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A68 Portrait photography highlights
71
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/320 seconds)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
79
manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Sony A68 as a Street photography camera
77
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides focus via touch
weather sealing
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
77
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography features
Sony A68 Sports photography features
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
low battery life (350 per charge)
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (510 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A68 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
weather sealing
provides focus via touch
good resolution (16MP)
low battery life (350 shots)
does not have selfie friendly display
54
resolution is good (24MP)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (510 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography info
Sony A68 Landscape photography info
72
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
low battery life (350 per charge)
67
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
terrible battery pack (510 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Sony A68
36
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone port
lighter than average in class (497g)
does not have selfie friendly display
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A68 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony A68
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony SLT-A68
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony SLT-A68
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2013-10-28 2015-11-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePIC VII Bionz X
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 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 81 79
Cross focus points - 15
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Flash off, Auto, Fill-flash, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Rear sync, Wireless, High Speed sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/320 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p, 24p), 1440 x 1080, 640 x 480
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lbs) 610 gr (1.34 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 79
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 13.5
DXO Low light score 757 701
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 510 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (Yes (2 or 12 sec))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $799 $581