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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony W730

Portability
89
Imaging
47
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
33
Overall
36

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony W730 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
  • Launched November 2011
  • Successor is Olympus E-PM2
Sony W730
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-224mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2013
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony W730 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony W730, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and W730 (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and W730 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM1 was released 13 months prior to the W730 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W730 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PM1 matches up vs the W730 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Sony W730

 E-PM1 W730 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W730 over the Olympus E-PM1

 W730 E-PM1 
RevealedJanuary 2013November 2011Fresher by 13 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony W730

 E-PM1 W730 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony W730 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 enjoys exterior 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 W730 has proportions of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") with a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony W730 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PM1 compared to the W730.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony W730 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and W730 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony W730 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony W730 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing technical specs. The visual here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and W730.

As you can tell, the two cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PM1 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony W730 will show extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older E-PM1 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony W730 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony W730 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony W730 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography info
Sony W730 Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
34
good MP (16MP)
includes face detect focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM1
Street photography with Sony W730
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
67
image stabilization (Optical)
features focus via touch
lighter than competitors (122g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W730 as a Sports photography camera
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography information
Sony W730 Travel photography information
45
no Timelapse mode
low MP (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
71
lighter than competitors (122 grams)
features focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
Landscape photography with Sony W730
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
38
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Sony W730
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no external microphone jack
34
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
lighter than competitors (122g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic jack
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony W730 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Sony W730
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-11-23 2013-01-08
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-224mm (9.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.3
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Advanced Flash
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 gr (0.58 lbs) 122 gr (0.27 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 93 x 52 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 240 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $499 $138