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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX1

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX1 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
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PM2
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Introduced April 2009
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX1 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and HX1 (1/2.4") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was announced 2 years after the HX1 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-PM1 scores versus the HX1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Sony HX1

 E-PM1 HX1 
IntroducedNovember 2011April 2009Newer by 32 months
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus E-PM1

 HX1 E-PM1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony HX1

 E-PM1 HX1 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM1 provides exterior 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 HX1 has measurements of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PM1 and the HX1.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and HX1 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions just by checking a spec sheet. The image here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and HX1.

As you can see, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PM1 will give you more detail with its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The fresher E-PM1 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
27
you can focus manually
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (9 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography advice
Sony HX1 Street photography advice
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
50
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
has no RAW files
more heavy than others in class (544 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography information
Sony HX1 Sports photography information
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps low (6.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect autofocus
36
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution not great (9MP)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM1
Travel photography with Sony HX1
45
doesn't have Time Lapse function
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
48
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than others in class (544 grams)
sensor resolution not great (9MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
Landscape photography with Sony HX1
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
39
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution not great (9 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Sony HX1
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic port
22
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1440 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than others in class (544 grams)
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Sony HX1
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-11-23 2009-04-22
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 9 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 9.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1440x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265g (0.58 pounds) 544g (1.20 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $499 $47,999