Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX5

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX5, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the HX5 (10MP) is very well matched but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and HX5 (1/2.4") offer totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PM1 was introduced 18 months after the HX5 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PM1 grades versus the HX5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PM1 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery & Sony HX5 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 features physical 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) while the Sony HX5 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-PM1 versus the HX5.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and HX5 is 89 and 92 respectively.

In many cases, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading through specifications. The picture here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and HX5.

Plainly, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 using its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-PM1 will give greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more modern E-PM1 will have a benefit in sensor technology.