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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX100 III 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
  • Released May 2013
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PM1
Sony RX100 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched May 2014
  • Superseded the Sony RX100 II
  • Updated by Sony RX100 IV
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PM2 versus Sony RX100 III, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the RX100 III (20MP) is fairly similar but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and RX100 III (1") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM2 was revealed 11 months before the RX100 III which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-PM2 scores against the RX100 III in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony RX100 III

 E-PM2 RX100 III 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Olympus E-PM2

 RX100 III E-PM2 
LaunchedMay 2014May 2013More recent by 11 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k460kCrisper display (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony RX100 III

 E-PM2 RX100 III 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurements

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM2 has outside dimensions 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 RX100 III has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") along with a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PM2 versus Sony RX100 III in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PM2 compared to the RX100 III.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and RX100 III is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX100 III top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to see the gap between sensor measurements merely by going over specs. The photograph below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM2 and RX100 III.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PM2 having a larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Sony RX100 III will deliver extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PM2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography information
Sony RX100 III Portrait photography information
71
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW files
64
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
offers face detect focus
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Street photography camera
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
85
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (290 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
no phase detect AF
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
offers tracking focus
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography features
Sony RX100 III Travel photography features
66
features focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
85
lighter than competition in class (290 grams)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
really wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX100 III Landscape photography highlights
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
73
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging highlights
Sony RX100 III Vlogging highlights
36
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic socket
80
really wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (290 grams)
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Sony RX100 III
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Released 2013-05-21 2014-05-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/2000 seconds
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/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269g (0.59 pounds) 290g (0.64 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 67
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 22.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 12.3
DXO Low light rating 932 495
Other
Battery life 360 images 320 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $448 $748