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Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A390

Portability
54
Imaging
61
Features
93
Overall
73
Olympus OM-D E-M1X front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A390 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 Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 997g - 144 x 147 x 75mm
  • Released January 2019
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M1 II
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Previous Model is Sony A380
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Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A390 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A390, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the E-M1X (20MP) and A390 (14MP) and the E-M1X (Four Thirds) and A390 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1X was manufactured 8 years after the A390 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1X being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-M1X matches up versus the A390 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1X over the Sony A390

 E-M1X A390 
IntroducedJanuary 2019July 2010Newer by 104 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Olympus E-M1X

 A390 E-M1X 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1X and Sony A390

 E-M1X A390 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1X has outside measurements of 144mm x 147mm x 75mm (5.7" x 5.8" x 3.0") along with a weight of 997 grams (2.20 lbs) and the Sony A390 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A390 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the E-M1X vs the A390.

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A390 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1X and A390 is 54 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor dimensions only by going through specifications. The pic here might provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1X and A390.

To sum up, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1X due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Olympus E-M1X will show extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The newer E-M1X is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1X Portrait photography advice
Sony A390 Portrait photography advice
76
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
72
manual focus
decent MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1X as a Street photography camera
Sony A390 as a Street photography camera
67
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes touch focus
weather sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
more heavy than others (997g)
76
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1X Sports photography factors
Sony A390 Sports photography factors
80
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (60.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
great battery life (870 CIPA)
has phase detect AF
60
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
bad battery life (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1X Travel photography highlights
Sony A390 Travel photography highlights
68
great battery life (870 shots)
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
includes touch focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
selfie friendly display
more heavy than others (997 grams)
53
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (230 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1X
Landscape photography with Sony A390
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
great battery life (870 CIPA)
has double storage slots
61
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
bad battery life (230 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1X Vlogging features
Sony A390 Vlogging features
68
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
has microphone port
more heavy than others (997g)
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1X and Sony A390
 Olympus OM-D E-M1XSony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1X Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2019-01-24 2010-07-28
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter speed 60.0 frames per sec 3.0 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 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options 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, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Max video resolution 4096x2160 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 997 gr (2.20 pounds) 549 gr (1.21 pounds)
Physical dimensions 144 x 147 x 75mm (5.7" x 5.8" x 3.0") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 607
Other
Battery life 870 photographs 230 photographs
Battery form Built-in Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage - SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Two 1
Launch price $2,999 $500