Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX10

In this article, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony RX10, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and RX10 (20MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and RX10 (1") enjoy different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-PM1 was launched 3 years earlier than the RX10 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX10 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-PM1 matches up versus the RX10 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PM1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery and Sony RX10 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM1 provides physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Sony RX10 has specifications of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") with a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony RX10 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PM1 against the RX10.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and RX10 is 89 and 58 respectively.

Usually, it can be tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes simply by looking through technical specs. The image below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and RX10.

As you have seen, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony RX10 will result in more detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.