Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A390

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony A390, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the A390 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and A390 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was launched 17 months later than the A390 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-PM1 matches up versus the A390 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PM1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A390. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery & Sony A390 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 provides exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Sony A390 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony A390 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-PM1 and the A390.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and A390 is 89 and 66 respectively.

More often than not, it's hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements just by seeing specifications. The visual here will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and A390.

To sum up, both of those cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PM1 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A390 will provide greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The younger E-PM1 provides a benefit in sensor technology.