Olympus E-P5 vs Sony RX1

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus E-P5 and Sony RX1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the E-P5 (16MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and RX1 (Full frame) possess different sensor dimensions.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The E-P5 was revealed 8 months later than the RX1 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-P5 scores versus the RX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-P5 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-P5 Gallery and Sony RX1 Gallery.

If you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-P5 features outer measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) while the Sony RX1 has specifications of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P5 and Sony RX1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-P5 versus the RX1.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-P5 and RX1 is 85 and 79 respectively.

Generally, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements purely by checking specs. The photograph here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P5 and RX1.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-P5 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony RX1 will resolve more detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The newer E-P5 should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.