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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony a5000

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Sony Alpha a5000 front
Portability
89
Imaging
63
Features
62
Overall
62

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony a5000 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
  • Updated by Olympus E-PM2
Sony a5000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-3N
  • Refreshed by Sony a5100
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony a5000 Overview

Here is a extensive comparison of the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony a5000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and a5000 (20MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and a5000 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was unveiled 3 years prior to the a5000 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-PM1 grades against the a5000 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Sony a5000

 E-PM1 a5000 

Reasons to pick Sony a5000 over the Olympus E-PM1

 a5000 E-PM1 
LaunchedJanuary 2014November 2011Fresher by 25 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution461k460kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony a5000

 E-PM1 a5000 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony a5000 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 has got outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Sony a5000 has sizing of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony a5000 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM1 compared to the a5000.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony a5000 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and a5000 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony a5000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony a5000 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading technical specs. The visual below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and a5000.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PM1 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh tougher and the Sony a5000 will deliver more detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The older E-PM1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony a5000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony a5000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony a5000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography factors
Sony a5000 Portrait photography factors
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
71
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Street photography camera
Sony a5000 as a Street photography camera
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
78
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography details
Sony a5000 Sports photography details
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
max fps low (6.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
lacks phase detect AF
60
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
good battery pack (420 shots)
max fps very slow (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM1
Travel photography with Sony a5000
45
missing Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
78
good battery pack (420 shots)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
flash built-in
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography features
Sony a5000 Landscape photography features
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
77
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (420 shots)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony a5000 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing external mic port
32
offers face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of mic jack
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony a5000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Sony a5000
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Sony Alpha a5000
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Sony Alpha a5000
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-11-23 2014-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 12800 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.6
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD with 180 upward tilt
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265g (0.58 lb) 269g (0.59 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 13.0
DXO Low light rating 499 1089
Other
Battery life 330 images 420 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $499 $448