Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A580

Below is a extended overview of the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A580, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and A580 (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and A580 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was launched 7 months later than the A580 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-PM1 scores versus the A580 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PM1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery and Sony A580 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM1 features exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Sony A580 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A580 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM1 and the A580.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and A580 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Often, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by looking through specs. The photograph here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and A580.

All in all, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PM1 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A580 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The younger E-PM1 will have an edge in sensor tech.