Olympus E-P5 vs Sony RX100

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-P5 versus Sony RX100, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-P5 (16MP) and the RX100 (20MP) is pretty similar but the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and RX100 (1") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P5 was brought out 14 months after the RX100 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-P5 matches up versus the RX100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-P5 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-P5 Gallery & Sony RX100 Gallery.

For those who are going to travel with your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P5 offers external measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P5 versus Sony RX100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-P5 vs the RX100.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P5 and RX100 is 85 and 91 respectively.

In many cases, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading a spec sheet. The picture below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P5 and RX100.

Clearly, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-P5 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF easier and the Sony RX100 will offer you extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots far more aggressively. The younger E-P5 provides an edge in sensor technology.