Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX100

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX100, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and RX100 (20MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and RX100 (1") posses totally different sensor size.

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The E-PM1 was unveiled 9 months prior to the RX100 and they are of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-PM1 matches up against the RX100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PM1 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery & Sony RX100 Gallery.

In case you're planning to travel with your camera, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM1 features physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony RX100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PM1 versus the RX100.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and RX100 is 89 and 91 respectively.

More often than not, it's hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions merely by going through specifications. The image underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and RX100.

To sum up, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 using its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Sony RX100 will provide greater detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.