Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-6
89 Imaging
47 Features
52 Overall
49
85 Imaging
57 Features
76 Overall
64
Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-6 Key Specs
(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
- Introduced November 2011
- Renewed by Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 100 - 25600
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 345g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
- Launched March 2013
- Successor is Sony A6000
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-6 Overview
Here is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony NEX-6, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and NEX-6 (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and NEX-6 (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesThe E-PM1 was revealed 16 months before the NEX-6 making them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-PM1 matches up against the NEX-6 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.
Photography Glossary Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-6 Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PM1 & Sony Alpha NEX-6. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery & Sony NEX-6 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Sony NEX-6
| E-PM1 | NEX-6 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-6 over the Olympus E-PM1
| NEX-6 | E-PM1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | March 2013 | November 2011 | Fresher by 16 months | |
| Display type | Tilting | Fixed | Tilting display | |
| Display resolution | 921k | 460k | Crisper display (+461k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony NEX-6
| E-PM1 | NEX-6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual focus | More accurate focus | |||
| Display dimensions | 3" | 3" | Equal display measurements | |
| Selfie screen | Absent selfie screen | |||
| Touch display | Absent Touch display |
Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-6 Physical Comparison
In case you're intending to carry your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM1 offers external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-6 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).
Analyze the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony NEX-6 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-PM1 and the NEX-6.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and NEX-6 is 89 and 85 respectively.
Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-6 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it is difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizing purely by looking through technical specs. The graphic underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and NEX-6.
As you have seen, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PM1 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony NEX-6 will provide you with more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The older E-PM1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.
Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and ViewFinder
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideStreet Comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesSports Comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthTravel Comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoLandscape Comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsVlogging Comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony NEX-6 Specifications
| Olympus PEN E-PM1 | Sony Alpha NEX-6 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand | Olympus | Sony |
| Model type | Olympus PEN E-PM1 | Sony Alpha NEX-6 |
| Class | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Advanced Mirrorless |
| Introduced | 2011-11-23 | 2013-03-25 |
| Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor | TruePic VI | Bionz |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
| Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
| Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 366.6mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Maximum resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 4912 x 3264 |
| Maximum native ISO | 12800 | 25600 |
| Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
| RAW format | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| Autofocus touch | ||
| Autofocus continuous | ||
| Single autofocus | ||
| Autofocus tracking | ||
| Autofocus selectice | ||
| Autofocus center weighted | ||
| Multi area autofocus | ||
| Live view autofocus | ||
| Face detection focus | ||
| Contract detection focus | ||
| Phase detection focus | ||
| Total focus points | 35 | 99 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Available lenses | 107 | 121 |
| Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of screen | Fixed Type | Tilting |
| Screen size | 3 inch | 3 inch |
| Screen resolution | 460 thousand dot | 921 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch operation | ||
| Screen tech | HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating | Xtra Fine LCD with Tilt Up 90� and Down 45� |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | Electronic (optional) | Electronic |
| Viewfinder resolution | - | 2,359 thousand dot |
| Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.73x |
| Features | ||
| Lowest shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
| Highest shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/4000s |
| Continuous shooting speed | 6.0 frames/s | 10.0 frames/s |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manually set exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Change white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash distance | no built-in flash | 6.00 m |
| Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in |
| Hot shoe | ||
| AEB | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Highest flash sync | 1/160s | 1/160s |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment metering | ||
| Average metering | ||
| Spot metering | ||
| Partial metering | ||
| AF area metering | ||
| Center weighted metering | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
| Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Video data format | AVCHD, Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
| Microphone input | ||
| Headphone input | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | Built-In |
| 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 | 265g (0.58 lbs) | 345g (0.76 lbs) |
| Physical dimensions | 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") | 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around rating | 52 | 78 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 21.0 | 23.7 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.3 | 13.1 |
| DXO Low light rating | 499 | 1018 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 330 images | 360 images |
| Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | BLS-5 | NPFW50 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) |
| Time lapse feature | With downloadable app | |
| Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
| Storage slots | One | One |
| Launch price | $499 | $365 |