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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony H55

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony H55 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
  • Launched November 2011
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PM2
Sony H55
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 103 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced June 2010
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony H55 Overview

Here is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony H55, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the H55 (14MP) is very similar but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and H55 (1/2.3") feature different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM1 was revealed 18 months later than the H55 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony H55 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-PM1 matches up versus the H55 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Sony H55

 E-PM1 H55 
AnnouncedNovember 2011June 2010Fresher by 18 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Olympus E-PM1

 H55 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony H55

 E-PM1 H55 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony H55 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM1 offers outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Sony H55 has specifications of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony H55 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the E-PM1 compared to the H55.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony H55 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and H55 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony H55 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony H55 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and H55.

Clearly, the two cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PM1 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony H55 will offer greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The fresher E-PM1 should have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony H55 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony H55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony H55 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
28
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography advice
Sony H55 Street photography advice
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography details
Sony H55 Sports photography details
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
38
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM1
Travel photography with Sony H55
45
no Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
67
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
Landscape photography with Sony H55
65
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
42
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony H55 as a Vlogging camera
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic port
28
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony H55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Sony H55
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-11-23 2010-06-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265g (0.58 lb) 200g (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 103 x 58 x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $499 $235