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Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A9

Portability
81
Imaging
62
Features
83
Overall
70
Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 383g - 122 x 84 x 49mm
  • Introduced August 2020
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M10 III
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Introduced April 2017
  • Renewed by Sony A9 II
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Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A9 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony A9, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M10 IV (20MP) and the A9 (24MP) is relatively well matched but the E-M10 IV (Four Thirds) and A9 (Full frame) have different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-M10 IV was announced 3 years later than the A9 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-M10 IV matches up vs the A9 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 IV over the Sony A9

 E-M10 IV A9 
IntroducedAugust 2020April 2017Fresher by 41 months
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Olympus E-M10 IV

 A9 E-M10 IV 
Screen resolution1440k1040kCrisper screen (+400k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony A9

 E-M10 IV A9 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M10 IV offers external measurements of 122mm x 84mm x 49mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9") along with a weight of 383 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Sony A9 has dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony A9 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M10 IV against the A9.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A9 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M10 IV and A9 is 81 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing just by looking at specifications. The visual here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M10 IV and A9.

Plainly, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M10 IV having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A9 will give greater detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The more recent E-M10 IV provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Portrait photography information
Sony A9 Portrait photography information
77
focusing manually
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
83
focusing manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV as a Street photography camera
Sony A9 as a Street photography camera
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features focus by touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
79
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW files
features focus via touch
environment proofing
above average ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV as a Sports photography camera
Sony A9 as a Sports photography camera
72
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
86
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (20.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
good battery (650 per charge)
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV as a Travel photography camera
Sony A9 as a Travel photography camera
84
has bluetooth
features focus by touch
MP count good (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
73
good battery (650 shots)
environment proofing
connects via bluetooth
features focus via touch
good megapixels (24MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Landscape photography advice
Sony A9 Landscape photography advice
82
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
85
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
above average ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
good battery (650 per charge)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Vlogging factors
Sony A9 Vlogging factors
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
no microphone socket
36
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external microphone socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony A9
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 IVSony Alpha A9
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV Sony Alpha A9
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2020-08-04 2017-04-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 51200
Maximum boosted ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 100 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 121 693
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.78x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.7 frames per sec 20.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.20 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash settings Redeye, fill-in, off, redeye slow-sync (1st-curtain), slow sync (1st-curtain), slow sync (2nd-curtain), manual Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 383g (0.84 lb) 673g (1.48 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 84 x 49mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 92
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 3517
Other
Battery life 360 images 650 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots Single Two
Retail price $699 $4,498