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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX400V 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
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PM2
Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Revealed February 2014
  • Replaced the Sony HX300
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX400V Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony HX400V, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and HX400V (20MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and HX400V (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM1 was launched 3 years earlier than the HX400V and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-PM1 grades vs the HX400V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Sony HX400V

 E-PM1 HX400V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Olympus E-PM1

 HX400V E-PM1 
RevealedFebruary 2014November 2011Fresher by 27 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony HX400V

 E-PM1 HX400V 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 provides exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Sony HX400V has sizing of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") along with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony HX400V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PM1 and the HX400V.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and HX400V is 89 and 62 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizing only by checking out specifications. The visual here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and HX400V.

To sum up, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PM1 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony HX400V will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older E-PM1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography information
Sony HX400V Portrait photography information
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
51
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography highlights
Sony HX400V Street photography highlights
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
50
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than others in class (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM1
Sports photography with Sony HX400V
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max fps low (6.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
does not have phase detect auto focus
55
excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography information
Sony HX400V Travel photography information
45
doesn't have Timelapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
53
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than others in class (660g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
49
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX400V as a Vlogging camera
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone socket
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than others in class (660g)
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Sony HX400V
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-11-23 2014-02-12
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
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 - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 gr (0.58 lbs) 660 gr (1.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
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 shots 300 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $499 $448