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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX100V

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V front
Portability
66
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX100V 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
  • Introduced November 2011
  • Successor is Olympus E-PM2
Sony HX100V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 27-810mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 577g - 122 x 87 x 93mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • New Model is Sony HX200V
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX100V Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony HX100V, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and HX100V (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and HX100V (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM1 was manufactured 2 months after the HX100V which means that they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX100V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-PM1 scores against the HX100V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Sony HX100V

 E-PM1 HX100V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX100V over the Olympus E-PM1

 HX100V E-PM1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony HX100V

 E-PM1 HX100V 
AnnouncedNovember 2011October 2011Similar age
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX100V Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM1 comes with external 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 HX100V has dimensions of 122mm x 87mm x 93mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 3.7") having a weight of 577 grams (1.27 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony HX100V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PM1 and the HX100V.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX100V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and HX100V is 89 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX100V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX100V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes merely by checking specifications. The picture here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and HX100V.

To sum up, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX100V will give greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX100V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX100V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX100V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX100V Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
39
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography information
Sony HX100V Street photography information
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
50
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than others in class (577g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography features
Sony HX100V Sports photography features
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
49
incredible zoom range (27-810mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX100V Travel photography highlights
45
missing Time Lapse function
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
54
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (27mm)
great zoom (810mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (577g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography info
Sony HX100V Landscape photography info
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
missing Time Lapse function
47
focusing manually
really wide (27mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging factors
Sony HX100V Vlogging factors
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
missing external mic port
25
really wide (27mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
heavier than others in class (577 grams)
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX100V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Sony HX100V
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-11-23 2011-10-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 27-810mm (30.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-5.6
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.70 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265g (0.58 lb) 577g (1.27 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 122 x 87 x 93mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 3.7")
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 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $499 $429