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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX10 IV

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV front
Portability
52
Imaging
54
Features
82
Overall
65

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX10 IV Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced November 2011
  • Successor is Olympus E-PM2
Sony RX10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1095g - 133 x 94 x 145mm
  • Introduced September 2017
  • Succeeded the Sony RX10 III
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX10 IV Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony RX10 IV, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and RX10 IV (20MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and RX10 IV (1") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was announced 6 years earlier than the RX10 IV and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX10 IV being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-PM1 scores against the RX10 IV when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Sony RX10 IV

 E-PM1 RX10 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 IV over the Olympus E-PM1

 RX10 IV E-PM1 
IntroducedSeptember 2017November 2011More recent by 70 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k460kSharper screen (+980k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony RX10 IV

 E-PM1 RX10 IV 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX10 IV Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 offers outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Sony RX10 IV has sizing of 133mm x 94mm x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7") along with a weight of 1095 grams (2.41 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony RX10 IV in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PM1 against the RX10 IV.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX10 IV size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and RX10 IV is 89 and 52 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX10 IV top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX10 IV Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements simply by going through specs. The photograph below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and RX10 IV.

All in all, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PM1 with its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Sony RX10 IV will provide more detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PM1 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX10 IV sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography info
Sony RX10 IV Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
72
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography info
Sony RX10 IV Street photography info
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
64
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW formats
provides touch to focus
environment proofing
heavier than competitors in class (1,095 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX10 IV as a Sports photography camera
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
no phase detect autofocus
77
incredible zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (24.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
has tracking focus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography features
Sony RX10 IV Travel photography features
45
no Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
57
environment proofing
has bluetooth
provides touch to focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (1,095g)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
Landscape photography with Sony RX10 IV
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
no Time Lapse recording
63
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging information
Sony RX10 IV Vlogging information
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic socket
29
fairly wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have mic socket
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
display is not selfie friendly
heavier than competitors in class (1,095 grams)
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX10 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Sony RX10 IV
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-11-23 2017-09-12
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 315
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-600mm (25.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 24.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/2000 seconds
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lb) 1095 grams (2.41 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 133 x 94 x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos 400 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $499 $1,698