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Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A7R

Portability
54
Imaging
61
Features
93
Overall
73
Olympus OM-D E-M1X front
 
Sony Alpha A7R front
Portability
78
Imaging
74
Features
76
Overall
74

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A7R Key Specs

Olympus E-M1X
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 997g - 144 x 147 x 75mm
  • Introduced January 2019
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M1 II
Sony A7R
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 465g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Revealed February 2014
  • Refreshed by Sony A7R II
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Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A7R Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus E-M1X and Sony A7R, both Pro Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1X (20MP) and A7R (36MP) and the E-M1X (Four Thirds) and A7R (Full frame) boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1X was announced 5 years after the A7R which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-M1X grades against the A7R in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1X over the Sony A7R

 E-M1X A7R 
RevealedJanuary 2019February 2014Newer by 61 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A7R over the Olympus E-M1X

 A7R E-M1X 
Display resolution1230k1037kCrisper display (+193k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M1X and Sony A7R

 E-M1X A7R 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A7R Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1X has got outside dimensions of 144mm x 147mm x 75mm (5.7" x 5.8" x 3.0") with a weight of 997 grams (2.20 lbs) and the Sony A7R has specifications of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 465 grams (1.03 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1X and Sony A7R in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M1X compared to the A7R.

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A7R size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1X and A7R is 54 and 78 respectively.

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A7R top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A7R Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading through specs. The picture underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1X and A7R.

All in all, each of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1X using its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Sony A7R will resolve more detail with its extra 16MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos more aggressively. The fresher E-M1X provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A7R sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A7R Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A7R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1X Portrait photography advice
Sony A7R Portrait photography advice
76
manual focus
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
84
has manual focus
megapixel count excellent (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1X Street photography info
Sony A7R Street photography info
67
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has focus by touch
environment sealing
great ISO range (25,600)
heavier than others in class (997g)
80
has a tilting screen
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
lighter than others in class (465 grams)
above average ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1X Sports photography highlights
Sony A7R Sports photography highlights
80
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/32,000s)
high max fps (60.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
better than average battery (870 CIPA)
has phase detect auto focus
62
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count excellent (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
weather proof
max fps low (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
terrible battery (340 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1X
Travel photography with Sony A7R
68
better than average battery (870 per charge)
environment sealing
has bluetooth
has focus by touch
decent megapixels (20MP)
selfie friendly display
heavier than others in class (997 grams)
70
lighter than others in class (465g)
weather proof
megapixel count excellent (36MP)
terrible battery (340 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1X
Landscape photography with Sony A7R
79
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
better than average battery (870 per charge)
2 card slots
78
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
megapixel count excellent (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
no image stabilization
terrible battery (340 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1X as a Vlogging camera
Sony A7R as a Vlogging camera
68
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
high res video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
has external mic support
heavier than others in class (997 grams)
36
has face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic socket
lighter than others in class (465g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
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Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A7R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1X and Sony A7R
 Olympus OM-D E-M1XSony Alpha A7R
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1X Sony Alpha A7R
Class Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2019-01-24 2014-02-13
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Dual TruePic VIII Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 36MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 121 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 1,230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting rate 60.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), manual no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes (USB-PD allows charging by laptop or external power bank) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 997g (2.20 lb) 465g (1.03 lb)
Physical dimensions 144 x 147 x 75mm (5.7" x 5.8" x 3.0") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 95
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 2746
Other
Battery life 870 photographs 340 photographs
Type of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Two Single
Cost at launch $2,999 $1,898