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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A900

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
Portability
54
Imaging
66
Features
62
Overall
64

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A900 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL7
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL9
Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Announced October 2008
  • Successor is Sony A99
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A900 Overview

The following is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus E-PL8 versus Sony A900, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and A900 (25MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and A900 (Full frame) posses different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL8 was announced 8 years after the A900 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-PL8 scores against the A900 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Sony A900

 E-PL8 A900 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016October 2008Newer by 97 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k922kSharper screen (+115k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Olympus E-PL8

 A900 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Sony A900

 E-PL8 A900 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A900 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL8 has got physical dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Sony A900 has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL8 versus Sony A900 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL8 versus the A900.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A900 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and A900 is 86 and 54 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A900 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A900 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by looking through specifications. The picture underneath might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL8 and A900.

To sum up, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL8 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A900 will result in more detail with its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots more aggressively. The fresher E-PL8 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A900 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A900 as a Portrait photography camera
72
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
71
has manual focus
sensor resolution is excellent (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL8
Street photography with Sony A900
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A900 as a Sports photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is excellent (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
environment proof
supports phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography advice
Sony A900 Travel photography advice
71
provides touch focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
54
environment proof
sensor resolution is excellent (25 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A900 Landscape photography highlights
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
72
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is excellent (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
has dual storage slots
doesn't have liveview
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging info
Sony A900 Vlogging info
35
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Sony A900
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2016-09-19 2008-10-22
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 25MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357g (0.79 pounds) 895g (1.97 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 1431
Other
Battery life 350 images 880 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Storage slots Single 2
Launch cost $500 $2,736