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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A6500

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
68
Features
85
Overall
74

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A6500 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
  • Announced November 2011
  • Successor is Olympus E-PM2
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Introduced October 2016
  • Replaced the Sony A6300
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony A6500, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and A6500 (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

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The E-PM1 was launched 5 years earlier than the A6500 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-PM1 scores versus the A6500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Sony A6500

 E-PM1 A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Olympus E-PM1

 A6500 E-PM1 
IntroducedOctober 2016November 2011Newer by 59 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kCrisper screen (+462k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony A6500

 E-PM1 A6500 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera often, you should factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM1 has got outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Sony A6500 has specifications of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony A6500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the E-PM1 vs the A6500.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and A6500 is 89 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions just by going through technical specs. The picture below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and A6500.

As you have seen, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A6500 will show extra detail utilizing its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography details
Sony A6500 Portrait photography details
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
80
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Street photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Street photography camera
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
85
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch to focus
environment proof
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography highlights
Sony A6500 Sports photography highlights
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect auto focus
77
silent mode (1/32,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
environment proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
bad battery life (350 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography advice
Sony A6500 Travel photography advice
45
lack of Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
74
environment proof
has bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
built-in flash
bad battery life (350 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
Landscape photography with Sony A6500
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
80
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
bad battery life (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A6500 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of external mic port
39
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have mic jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Sony A6500
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Sony Alpha a6500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2011-11-23 2016-10-06
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 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 425
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 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 (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 grams (0.58 pounds) 453 grams (1.00 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 85
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 13.7
DXO Low light score 499 1405
Other
Battery life 330 shots 350 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $499 $1,298