Olympus E-M5 vs Sigma DP1s

Following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-M5 and Sigma DP1s, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sigma. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and DP1s (5MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and DP1s (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-M5 was introduced 2 years after the DP1s which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sigma DP1s being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-M5 grades vs the DP1s with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus OM-D E-M5 & Sigma DP1s. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-M5 Gallery & Sigma DP1s Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 features outside measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sigma DP1s has dimensions of 109mm x 60mm x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 270 grams (0.60 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 and Sigma DP1s in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-M5 compared to the DP1s.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and DP1s is 81 and 90 respectively.

Generally, it can be difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes only by going through specs. The pic below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and DP1s.

All in all, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will provide more detail using its extra 11MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.