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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A350

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 front
Portability
62
Imaging
53
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A350 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed November 2011
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PM2
Sony A350
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 674g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Released June 2008
  • Updated by Sony A380
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A350 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony A350, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the A350 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and A350 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM1 was manufactured 3 years after the A350 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A350 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-PM1 matches up against the A350 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Sony A350

 E-PM1 A350 
ReleasedNovember 2011June 2008More modern by 43 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A350 over the Olympus E-PM1

 A350 E-PM1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony A350

 E-PM1 A350 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A350 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM1 comes with outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Sony A350 has measurements of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony A350 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PM1 vs the A350.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A350 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and A350 is 89 and 62 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A350 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A350 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by seeing specs. The pic here should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and A350.

All in all, the 2 cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A350 will provide more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images more aggressively. The newer E-PM1 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A350 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A350 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A350 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A350 Portrait photography highlights
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
71
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography information
Sony A350 Street photography information
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
66
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
more heavy than average in class (674 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A350 as a Sports photography camera
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography info
Sony A350 Travel photography info
45
missing Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
51
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (674 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A350 Landscape photography highlights
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
missing Timelapse recording
64
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging features
Sony A350 Vlogging features
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone socket
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A350 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Sony A350
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-11-23 2008-06-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 265 grams (0.58 pounds) 674 grams (1.49 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 65
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 11.5
DXO Low light rating 499 595
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $499 $600