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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX1

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed May 2013
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PM1
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Revealed April 2009
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX1 Overview

In this write-up, we are comparing the Olympus E-PM2 versus Sony HX1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and HX1 (1/2.4") come with different sensor size.

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The E-PM2 was brought out 4 years after the HX1 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-PM2 scores versus the HX1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony HX1

 E-PM2 HX1 
RevealedMay 2013April 2009Newer by 50 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus E-PM2

 HX1 E-PM2 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony HX1

 E-PM2 HX1 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 has got exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony HX1 has proportions of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") and a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PM2 versus Sony HX1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PM2 versus the HX1.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and HX1 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reading through specs. The image here may give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and HX1.

All in all, both of those cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-PM2 will resolve greater detail having its extra 7MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The younger E-PM2 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM2
Portrait photography with Sony HX1
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
27
you can focus manually
external flash not possible
low MP (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography highlights
Sony HX1 Street photography highlights
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
50
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than others (544g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography features
Sony HX1 Sports photography features
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect AF
36
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low MP (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX1 Travel photography highlights
66
offers touch to focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
48
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (544 grams)
low MP (9 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography features
Sony HX1 Landscape photography features
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have Timelapse function
39
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low MP (9MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX1 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone support
22
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1440 x 1080 pxls)
no external mic jack
heavier than others (544g)
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Sony HX1
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-05-21 2009-04-22
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 9MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 9.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1440x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 269 gr (0.59 lb) 544 gr (1.20 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $448 $47,999