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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX90V

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
63
Overall
51

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX90V Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched May 2013
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PM1
Sony HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released April 2015
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX90V Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony HX90V, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the HX90V (18MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and HX90V (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM2 was manufactured 23 months before the HX90V which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX90V being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-PM2 grades against the HX90V for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony HX90V

 E-PM2 HX90V 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Olympus E-PM2

 HX90V E-PM2 
ReleasedApril 2015May 2013Fresher by 23 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony HX90V

 E-PM2 HX90V 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX90V Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM2 enjoys outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony HX90V has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony HX90V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PM2 versus the HX90V.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX90V size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and HX90V is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX90V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX90V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing purely by going through technical specs. The visual below should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and HX90V.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 due to its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Sony HX90V will provide extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The older E-PM2 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX90V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX90V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX90V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX90V Portrait photography factors
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
45
manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
has face detection focus
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX90V as a Street photography camera
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
69
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography advice
Sony HX90V Sports photography advice
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect AF
57
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
great battery power (360 CIPA)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX90V as a Travel photography camera
66
includes touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
76
great battery power (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition (245g)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX90V Landscape photography highlights
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
53
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
great battery power (360 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging info
Sony HX90V Vlogging info
36
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic socket
75
decently wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (245g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX90V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Sony HX90V
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-05-21 2015-04-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 16MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269g (0.59 lbs) 245g (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 360 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $448 $440