Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A6400: A Hands-On Comparison for Discerning Photographers

In an age where mirrorless cameras abound, two models from respected manufacturers stand out in the entry-to-mid-level mirrorless segment: Olympus’s OM-D E-M10 IV and Sony’s Alpha A6400. I’ve spent extensive time personally testing and comparing these cameras across multiple scenarios and photography genres. The result is a comprehensive and honest breakdown to help you decide which camera aligns better with your needs, style, and budget.

Both cameras have compelling attributes and unique quirks. I’ll walk you through the technological nuts and bolts, real-world usability, image quality, and their performance under different photographic disciplines. This isn’t just a spec sheet blow-by-blow: I’ll share insights from my test shoots across landscapes, portraits, wildlife, and beyond - highlighting what these cameras truly offer.

Getting Hands-On: Size, Ergonomics, and Controls

The tactile experience of a camera significantly influences how much you enjoy using it day-to-day. I always start my evaluation by physically handling the cameras to gauge comfort and usability.

Olympus E-M10 IV - Classic SLR Style, Micro Four Thirds Compactness

At just 122x84x49mm and weighing a mere 383g (battery included), the Olympus E-M10 IV feels delightfully pocketable for an interchangeable lens camera. Its SLR-style body provides a traditional handgrip which accommodates various hand sizes comfortably. The lens mount uses the Micro Four Thirds standard - meaning lenses tend to be compact and lightweight.

The tilting 3.0-inch touchscreen articulates sufficiently for high or low-angle shooting and has responsive touch control. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) offers 2.36 million dots resolution with 100% coverage - bright and sharp for precise framing.

Sony A6400 - Rangefinder-like Body with a Modern Edge

The Sony A6400 features a rangefinder-style, slightly more elongated body at 120x67x50mm, weighing slightly heavier at 403g. The grip is a bit shallower but still secure, especially with small-to-medium hands. Here you get a tilting 3.0-inch touchscreen with 922,000 dots, which although slightly less sharp than Olympus, is perfectly usable.

The EVF closely matches the Olympus in resolution (2.36 million dots) but offers a slightly higher magnification of 0.7x versus 0.62x - lending a more immersive view. Build quality is improved with some degree of weather sealing (dust resistant), unlike the Olympus which lacks environmental sealing.

Controls and Touch Interface

Olympus tends toward classic dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and drive modes, which made manual adjustments intuitive when back in the field. The Sony A6400, in contrast, leans on its customizable function buttons and a control wheel system, which feels more versatile once mastered - but demands a bit more menu deep-diving.

Tilting touchscreens on both models make focus selection and shooting from tricky angles a breeze. Olympus’s touchscreen consistency and gesture controls impressed me for quick adjustments.

Sensor and Image Quality: Micro Four Thirds vs APS-C

One major difference between these two cameras lies beneath the hood: the sensor format. The Olympus E-M10 IV uses a 20MP Four Thirds-sized sensor (17.4 x 13 mm), whereas the Sony A6400 sports a larger 24MP APS-C sensor (23.5 x 15.6 mm).

By industry-standard testing and my practical experience, APS-C sensors like the one in Sony’s A6400 generally deliver superior image quality - especially in dynamic range, low-light performance, and noise control at high ISOs. The wider sensor can collect more light, yielding cleaner images in shadow-rich scenes and night photography.

Resolution and Detail

The Sony’s 24MP resolution lets you extract impressively fine detail, which is notable for landscape and studio work. Olympus’s slightly lower megapixel count - compounded by the smaller sensor - typically produces images that can show softness when pixel-peeping, but this is often masked by excellent in-camera processing.

Color Depth and Dynamic Range

Sony’s A6400 scores well in color depth (24 bits in DxOMark tests) and a dynamic range of about 13.6 stops, allowing me to pull shadows and highlights effectively. Olympus is not DxO tested, but Four Thirds sensors normally lag slightly behind APS-C in these areas. Still, Olympus’s TruePic VIII processor produces vibrant colors with pleasing skin tones, valuable for portraiture.

Autofocus: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus systems serve as the heart of usability today. In my testing, autofocus performance can make or break a shoot, especially for fast-moving or spontaneous subjects.

Olympus E-M10 IV AF System

The Olympus uses contrast-detection autofocus with 121 selectable points. Its face and eye detection work well in static scenes and moderate light. Continuous autofocus tracking is decent but occasionally struggles with erratic movement. I found the camera needed some patience when tracking rapid wildlife or sports action. There’s no phase-detection AF here.

Sony A6400 AF System

Sony’s a6400 offers a hybrid autofocus with 425 phase-detection AF points layered with contrast detection, delivering blazing-fast and precise focusing. Eye AF is impressively accurate - extending even to animals - which is priceless for portrait and wildlife photographers. Continuous autofocus tracking in burst mode sustains locked focus better on erratic moving subjects.

With a burst speed of 11fps, the Sony is best-in-class here, while Olympus caps at 8.7fps.

Build and Weather Sealing: Ready For the Outdoors?

Durability is essential for outdoor and travel photographers.

The Olympus E-M10 IV’s all-plastic body feels light but less rugged. It’s not weather sealed - so caution is advised shooting in wet or dusty conditions.

Conversely, the Sony A6400 features some dust and moisture resistance (environmental sealing) - a notable advantage for shooting in less forgiving environments.

Versatility Across Photography Genres

Let’s explore how these cameras perform across key photography types, factoring sensor, autofocus, speed, and handling.

Portrait Photography

Olympus’s TruePic VIII processor renders warm, flattering skin tones. The 5-axis sensor-based image stabilization aids in hand-held portraits at slower shutters, helping maintain crispness. Eye detection works well but isn’t as fast or reliable as Sony’s.

Sony’s A6400 shines with accurate Eye AF - locking on effortlessly. The larger APS-C sensor offers creamy bokeh with fast prime lenses, enhancing subject isolation beautifully. I used Sony’s impressive lens lineup (with many fast 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 options) and got stunning results that easily rival more expensive full-frame setups.

Landscape Photography

While Olympus has a smaller sensor, the system’s excellent stabilized lenses translate to sharper handheld landscapes, especially in dim light. It offers multiple aspect ratios and native focus bracketing, boosting sharpness through stacking if desired.

Sony’s better dynamic range and higher resolution win here for fine detail and highlight recovery, at the expense of some handheld stability since its A6400 has no in-body image stabilization (IBIS).

Olympus falls short on weather sealing, a drawback for outdoors in inclement weather, whereas the Sony’s dust and moisture resistance is a plus. Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem excels with affordable, lightweight lenses, great for backpacking.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Here Sony’s fast 11fps burst rate and superior autofocus lock make a huge difference. The Animal Eye AF and wide AF coverage make capturing fleeting action and wildlife behavior easier.

Olympus, while decent, can feel sluggish in tracking rapid subjects, and the smaller sensor hinders low-light action shots. However, the smaller sensor also means the 2.1x crop factor effectively extends your telephoto reach - a benefit for distant wildlife with smaller, lighter lenses.

Street and Travel Photography

Both cameras score well for portability. Olympus’s smaller size and lighter weight win if absolute discretion and travel packing ease are priorities.

Sony’s more weather-resistant body and superior autofocus lend confidence for unpredictable street encounters and travel shooting. Battery life is slightly better on the Sony (410 shots vs 360 shots per charge), important for extended trips sans charging options.

Macro and Close-Up Photography

Neither camera specializes in macro, but their respective ecosystems offer competent lenses.

Olympus has numerous dedicated macro lenses with optical stabilization and close focusing abilities, while Sony’s larger sensor paired with sharp lenses produces crisp detail with natural background separation. Olympus’s 5-axis IBIS helps at low shutter speeds without a tripod.

Night and Astrophotography

Sony’s APS-C sensor, wider ISO range (up to 102,400 boost), and cleaner high ISO performance make it the stronger candidate for low-light and night sky shooting. Its dynamic range aids in capturing faint stars with detail.

Olympus’s max ISO of 25,600 is respectable but noise rises sooner; the IBIS helps by reducing exposure time handholding starry skies, but for long exposures, both require tripod support.

Video Capability and Handling

Both cameras shoot UHD 4K video at 30p or 24p.

Olympus E-M10 IV records 4K with a 102 Mbps bitrate, offering solid detail with in-body stabilization - a huge plus for stable handheld footage.

Sony records 4K 30p at approximately 100 Mbps in XAVC S format, favored for higher editing flexibility. The A6400 includes a microphone input, a feature absent on the Olympus, appealing to vloggers or filmmakers needing external audio control.

Sony lacks in-body stabilization, relying on optical or electronic lens-based solutions which vary in effectiveness. Olympus’s IBIS gives a smoother base experience.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity

Olympus’s battery life rating sits at around 360 shots, sufficient for casual shooting with moderate spare.

Sony’s rated at 410 shots, giving a slight edge for longer days.

Both utilize SD card storage - Olympus supports UHS-II for faster write speeds, beneficial for buffer clearing; Sony supports UHS-I.

Wireless connectivity on both models includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but Sony adds NFC for easier pairing.

Pricing and Value Assessment

At launch and current street prices, Olympus E-M10 IV typically retails near $699, putting it squarely in the entry-level mirrorless zone.

The Sony A6400 generally retails around $898, reflecting its more advanced feature set.

For photographers on a budget prioritizing compactness and stabilization, Olympus offers tremendous value. For those seeking performance, speed, and superior image quality - and willing to invest a bit more - Sony makes a compelling proposition.

Summarizing Real-World Performance Ratings

After extensive comparative testing in my studio and on location, I assigned performance scores reflecting each camera’s strengths across multiple key criteria.

And a further breakdown by photography types emphasizes where each model excels.

Sample Images Showcase

Key to any camera evaluation is the look and feel of images produced. Below are representative samples shot side-by-side under controlled lighting and outdoor scenarios.

Olympus E M10 IV front Olympus E M10 IV screen back Sony A6400 front Sony A6400 screen back

My Final Take: Tailoring Your Choice to Your Photography

In my personal experience, neither camera is unequivocally “better” - rather each fits distinct workflows and priorities.

• Choose Olympus E-M10 IV if you prioritize:

  • Lightweight travel and street portability
  • In-body 5-axis stabilization aiding hand-held sharpness
  • A friendly, beginner-accessible interface with classic controls
  • Budget-conscious entry into mirrorless with excellent lens options
  • Solid 4K video with stabilization in a compact form

• Choose Sony A6400 if you prioritize:

  • Faster AF system with phase detection and superior tracking
  • Higher resolution and better low-light performance
  • Weather resistance for shooting in challenging conditions
  • Extensive lens ecosystem with many fast primes and zooms
  • Advanced video features including microphone input
  • Burst shooting for wildlife or sports

If you are a hobbyist or enthusiast who values a creative learning curve and beautiful stabilization for handheld shooting, the Olympus could be your ideal companion. Meanwhile, if your passion leans towards action, wildlife, video content creation, or you want a more future-proof camera with robust speed and autofocus - Sony is worth the premium.

Technical Notes on Testing Methodology

My camera comparisons strictly follow standardized shooting scenarios with controlled lighting, charts for sharpness evaluation, multiple portrait test subjects for skin tone accuracy, field shooting for tracking and autofocus testing, and low-light environments for ISO performance. I apply repeatable test sequences to provide consistent, trustworthy analysis based on my 15+ years of camera review and image quality assessment expertise.

Closing Thoughts

In a crowded mirrorless market, the Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony A6400 represent two paths to high-quality photography: compact sophistication versus focused performance. Both will serve photographers well but appeal to different user profiles.

Your choice depends on weighing priorities like sensor size, autofocus demands, exposure versatility, and budget. Hopefully, this comparison armed you with authentic insights gleaned from hands-on shooting experience rather than marketing fluff.

Wishing you many beautiful frames on your photographic journey!

(Disclosure: I maintain professional independence and have no commercial affiliation with Olympus or Sony. All comparisons are based solely on empirical testing and photography expertise.)