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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX10 III

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III front
Portability
53
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX10 III 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
  • Announced May 2013
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PM1
Sony RX10 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1051g - 133 x 94 x 127mm
  • Revealed March 2016
  • Older Model is Sony RX10 II
  • Later Model is Sony RX10 IV
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX10 III Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony RX10 III, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the RX10 III (20MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and RX10 III (1") offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM2 was released 3 years earlier than the RX10 III and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX10 III being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-PM2 matches up versus the RX10 III for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony RX10 III

 E-PM2 RX10 III 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 III over the Olympus E-PM2

 RX10 III E-PM2 
RevealedMarch 2016May 2013Fresher by 34 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k460kCrisper screen (+769k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony RX10 III

 E-PM2 RX10 III 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX10 III Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM2 offers physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Sony RX10 III has dimensions of 133mm x 94mm x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") accompanied by a weight of 1051 grams (2.32 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony RX10 III in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-PM2 and the RX10 III.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX10 III size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and RX10 III is 89 and 53 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX10 III top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX10 III Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing just by looking at specs. The visual here should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and RX10 III.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Sony RX10 III will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs more aggressively. The older E-PM2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX10 III sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography advice
Sony RX10 III Portrait photography advice
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
71
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Sony RX10 III
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
offers touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
64
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
more heavy than average in class (1,051 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM2
Sports photography with Sony RX10 III
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
70
amazing zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
features tracking focus
weather sealing
good battery life (420 per charge)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX10 III as a Travel photography camera
66
offers touch focus
resolution is good (16MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
55
good battery life (420 shots)
weather sealing
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than average in class (1,051 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography information
Sony RX10 III Landscape photography information
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
63
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
good battery life (420 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
Vlogging with Sony RX10 III
36
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone jack
28
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone support
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
does not have a selfie friendly display
more heavy than average in class (1,051 grams)
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX10 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Sony RX10 III
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-05-21 2016-03-29
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-600mm (25.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 14.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s -
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lb) 1051 gr (2.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 133 x 94 x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 70
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 23.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 12.6
DXO Low light rating 932 472
Other
Battery life 360 photos 420 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $448 $1,398