Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony W830

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony W830, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and W830 (20MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and W830 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-PM1 was released 3 years prior to the W830 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W830 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-PM1 grades against the W830 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PM1 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery & Sony W830 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 features exterior 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) and the Sony W830 has sizing of 93mm x 52mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") with a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PM1 versus Sony W830 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PM1 vs the W830.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and W830 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Typically, it's hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes only by reading a spec sheet. The image below will provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and W830.

Clearly, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony W830 will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.