Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A100

Below, we are matching up the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony A100, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the A100 (10MP) is very comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and A100 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM1 was launched 5 years later than the A100 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-PM1 matches up versus the A100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PM1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A100. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery and Sony A100 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera often, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM1 provides outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Sony A100 has measurements of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony A100 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose during that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PM1 against the A100.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and A100 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Typically, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing simply by going through technical specs. The visual underneath should offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and A100.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PM1 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Olympus E-PM1 will provide extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The fresher E-PM1 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.