Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony RX1: In-Depth Lens on Two Unique Cameras

Choosing between the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 is a bit like picking between apples and... well, very high-end apples. Both target enthusiasts and pros but approach photography in strikingly different ways. I’ve spent countless hours with each, putting these cameras through the paces across genres from portraits to landscapes - and everything in between. If you’re hunting for your next camera upgrade (or a specialist tool), this comparison will guide you through strengths, weaknesses, and practical realities that matter most.

First Impressions: Ergonomics and Handling

Right off the bat, the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony RX1 feel worlds apart in handling. The Olympus is a classic mirrorless SLR-style body with well-laid-out physical controls, a deep grip, and a lightweight build at 469g. The Sony RX1, on the other hand, is a compact full-frame wonder, essentially a high-end point-and-shoot with professional imaging chops, weighing a slightly heavier 482g - but feels chunkier and less DSLR-like due to its squat, pocketable form.

I find Olympus’s extensive button layout, combined with its tilt-articulated touchscreen, offers a more tactile, intuitive experience especially for manual tweaking on the fly. The Sony’s minimalist surface and fixed screen feel closer to a film camera’s simplicity, a choice charming for street photographers but might frustrate in heavy manual shooting or rapid exposure adjustments.

The top view reflects this control philosophy - Olympus benefits from clearly labeled dials and a hot shoe aligned perfectly for external flashes or grips. The RX1’s controls are more minimal, emphasizing portability and quiet operation over versatility.

Sensor and Image Quality: Four Thirds vs Full Frame

Here’s a massive difference - and one that fundamentally shapes image quality and creative options.

The Sony RX1 boasts a full-frame 24MP CMOS sensor (measuring 35.8 x 23.8mm), which dwarfs the Olympus’s 16MP Four Thirds sensor (17.3 x 13mm). That’s nearly four times the sensor area, offering the Sony camera notably higher color depth (25.1 bits vs. 23), superior dynamic range (14.3 vs. 12.4 stops), and a much cleaner low-light ISO ceiling (rated effective ISO 2534 vs. 896 for Olympus).

This sensor advantage translates into better overall image fidelity, smoother gradations, and better performance at high sensitivities - which you’ll appreciate in challenging light conditions or for large prints. The Olympus’s smaller sensor, however, is not without merit; it excels in many scenarios thanks to remarkable in-body 5-axis image stabilization and rapid shooting speed.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

If portraits are your main gig, here’s what you should know.

The Sony RX1’s full-frame sensor plus its sharp, bright 35mm f/2 lens deliver stunningly natural skin tones and luscious bokeh, perfect for isolating subjects. That lovingly rendered background blur is something the Olympus can’t quite replicate because of its smaller Four Thirds sensor and heavier depth of field at comparable apertures.

While the Olympus E-M5 II has a versatile AF system with 81 contrast-detection points, face detection, and touch AF (which is a real boon for live view shooting and focusing on those eyes), it lacks sophisticated eye detection autofocus features NASA-level autofocus engineers would drool over - in mid-2015 it was top-notch; today it feels a bit dated. Sony’s RX1, while not boasting the latest autofocus algorithms, surprisingly nails single-shot autofocus for portraits, with precise face detection and subject tracking, though continuous AF is relatively slower and absent.

In real shoots, subject separation is easier and more artistic with RX1, but Olympus wins in reliable, quick autofocus for walking and shooting candid portraits.

Landscape Photography: Detail, Dynamic Range, and Durability

Landscape shooters require detail retention, extensive dynamic range, and ruggedness to brave the elements.

The 24MP RX1 sensor captures more detail, advantageous when making large prints or extreme crops. The lens is outstanding - sharp in the center and edges, with minimal chromatic aberration. The Olympus’s 16MP sensor still holds its own but differs noticeably when you pixel-peep or enlarge shots beyond 16x24 inches.

Additionally, Olympus has a big plus in environmental sealing - its magnesium alloy body resists splash, dust, and cold conditions, allowing you to shoot in inclement weather confidently. Sony RX1 lacks any weather sealing and requires care around moisture or dust.

The Olympus’s articulating screen also offers flexibility for low-to-the-ground or overhead shooting much appreciated for creative landscape angles, while the RX1’s fixed screen restricts your shooting posture somewhat.

Wildlife Photography: Autofocus Speed, Telephoto Reach, and Burst Rate

If you’re into wildlife, speed and reach matter.

Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds mount provides a huge lens selection, including affordable telephoto zooms and long primes - paired with its 2.0x focal length multiplier, you get effective focal lengths double the lens’s actual focal length, making it a potent wildlife setup. The E-M5 II’s 10 fps shooting with continuous autofocus rivals many competitors in this class and is suitable for fast action.

The RX1, constrained by its fixed 35mm lens and modest 5 fps burst rate, doesn’t suit wildlife photography well. There’s simply no telephoto reach and slower AF tracking, mostly optimized for still subjects or slower-moving subjects.

Sports Photography: Tracking, Low Light, and Continuous Shooting

Sports photography challenges autofocus tracking and high frame rates.

Olympus offers a respectable 10 fps continuous shooting and continuous AF with 81 contrast-detection points, which provides satisfying tracking on most subjects, albeit not cutting-edge compared to today’s flagship models. Its 5-axis image stabilization also helps maintain sharp shots under handholding stress.

Sony’s RX1 is only capable of 5 fps and relies on single AF for each shot, less ideal for unpredictable, high-speed action. Its superior high-ISO performance means it performs better in poorly lit sporting venues, but misses consistent fast AF of more specialized cameras.

Street Photography: Discretion, Low Light, and Portability

Street photographers crave unobtrusiveness, speed, and discretion.

The RX1 excels here. It’s compact, quiet, and the fixed 35mm lens is perfectly suited for street storytelling. Its subdued controls and silent operation mean you’ll seldom draw attention, something I always appreciate in crowded urban environments.

The Olympus E-M5 II is larger and more conspicuous, but its articulating screen and touchscreen AF provide shooting versatility when you want to get experimental with angles or capture fleeting moments.

Low-light street shooting favors the Sony due to superior ISO performance, but the Olympus’s in-body stabilization can sometimes open the door for sharper night shots at lower ISOs.

Macro Photography: Magnification, Focus Precision, and Stabilization

For close-up work, precision and sharpness rule.

The Olympus platform offers a broad range of dedicated macro lenses with close focusing distances and excellent magnification ratios. Combined with 5-axis sensor stabilization, you can squeeze extra sharpness and stabilize hand-held macro shots expertly.

Sony’s RX1, with its fixed 35mm f/2 lens, isn’t a macro shooter per se; close focus is limited, and no stabilization means more reliance on tripods for extreme close-ups.

If macro is high on your list, Olympus’s system versatility clearly wins.

Night and Astro Photography: ISO Handling and Exposure Flexibility

Astro photography demands low noise and long exposure reliability.

The Sony RX1’s full-frame sensor lends itself beautifully to night skies, with lower noise at high ISO and the potential for cleaner star fields. Its max shutter speed of 4 seconds is somewhat limiting (though bulb mode is accessible in manual), and exposure compensation covers your creative needs.

Olympus’s E-M5 II also offers great exposure control - with a faster max shutter of 1/8000s and silent shutter extremely beneficial for star trails. While its higher noise floor is evident beyond ISO 1600, in-body stabilization helps with handheld night shots.

For serious astro, RX1’s sensor technology is the winner, but Olympus remains a solid alternative, especially with weather sealing protecting your gear.

Video Capabilities: Recording Quality and Stabilization

Both cameras address video, but with some limitations.

The Olympus shoots full HD 1080p at up to 60fps, benefits from 5-axis in-body stabilization to smooth handheld footage, and includes a microphone port for better sound capture - a thoughtful touch for hybrid shooters.

Sony RX1 also records 1080p up to 60fps, with the option for AVCHD format, but no image stabilization. It does provide a built-in flash and a somewhat stronger maximum flash sync speed (1/4000 vs. 1/250 Olympus), useful for fill flash in video.

Overall, if video is a key part of your workflow, Olympus’s stabilization and input options edge ahead.

The Olympus’s touchscreen is a definite advantage here, making menu navigation and focus point selection during video much easier than Sony’s fixed, non-touch screen.

Travel Photography: Size, Battery Life, and Versatility

For travel photographers, carrying light without sacrificing range is crucial.

Though similar in weight, the Olympus E-M5 II’s larger but manageable size, articulating touchscreen, and extensive zoom lens compatibility make it a versatile travel companion adaptable to everything from landscapes to street shots. Its weather sealing means less worry about the rain or dust.

Sony RX1’s compact form factor is excellent for packing light, slipping in a jacket pocket, or quick street snaps without appearing intrusive. However, the fixed 35mm focal length demands either creative cropping or acceptance of limited framing diversity on the road.

Battery life slightly favors Olympus’s 310 shots vs. RX1’s 270, which is respectable for mirrorless and compact cameras, but I’d carry spares either way.

Professional Workflows: Reliability, File Formats, and Integration

In my many years testing cameras in pro environments, file flexibility and reliability stand out.

Both cameras shoot RAW, which is essential for post-processing latitude. Olympus uses a 16MP sensor while Sony’s higher-resolution 24MP sensor provides more detail retention - impressive for commercial print and archival work.

The Olympus’s USB 2.0 interface and built-in WiFi enable seamless tethered shooting and image transfer - a perk for professional studio or event work. Sony relies on Eye-Fi card compatibility for wireless but lags behind in this respect.

Additionally, Olympus’s faster shutter speed, weather sealing, and 5-axis stabilization translate to more dependable shooting in challenging conditions.

Technical Summary and Price Perspective

The price difference alone tells a story: the E-M5 II is an affordable, versatile workhorse that punches above its weight in professional realms. The RX1 is a pocketable, no-compromise image quality weapon, but it demands a premium price - largely justified by its extraordinary sensor and lens combo.

Olympus E M5 II front Olympus E M5 II screen back Sony RX1 front Sony RX1 screen back

I encourage you to look closely at these sample images above: note how the RX1 renders richer tones and cleaner details, while the Olympus offers impressive sharpness with a more punchy color palette. Both produce excellent results - but your choice depends fundamentally on your priorities.

Who Should Choose Which?

Pick the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II if:

• You want a highly versatile mirrorless system with a broad native lens ecosystem (107 lenses and counting).
• Weather sealing and rugged build are important.
• You shoot wildlife, sports, or macro and rely on fast burst, autofocus, and stabilization.
• Video and touchscreen interface matter.
• You’re budget-conscious but want a professional-grade package.
• You want flexibility for various photography genres.

Buy the Sony RX1 if:

• Maximum image quality in a compact form is your primary goal.
• You prioritize low-light, portraits, and landscape fidelity above all.
• You want a premium, fixed focal length full-frame compact for street and travel.
• You can budget significantly for a specialized camera.
• You don’t require extensive zoom range or weather protection.
• You prefer quieter, simpler controls focusing on image purity.

Final Thoughts: Two Outstanding Cameras, Different Philosophies

The Olympus E-M5 II and Sony RX1 are both exceptional, but they serve quite different purposes.

The E-M5 II impresses me as the everyman’s mirrorless camera - a lightweight, fast, rugged tool adaptable to almost any photographic pursuit, offering real-world advantages like stabilization and a massive lens lineup. It’s ideal if you want a system that grows with you.

Conversely, the Sony RX1 is a niche, image-quality-focused marvel, providing exceptional full-frame quality in a compact shell paired with an excellent lens. It’s perfect for photographers who value top-tier image fidelity and can accept limitations on zoom and burst speed.

Choosing between these two boils down to how and where you shoot. For a do-it-all, dependable workhorse, Olympus has the edge. For pristine full-frame image quality in a compact package, Sony captivates. Both deserve a spot in any camera enthusiast’s discussion about excellent tools in the mid-2010s era.

Whichever you choose, you’re in for a rewarding photographic journey.

I hope this explanation helps clarify your decision - feel free to reach out with questions or for real-world usage tips based on your photography style!