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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX10 IV

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV front
Portability
52
Imaging
53
Features
82
Overall
64

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX10 IV Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Introduced January 2016
Sony RX10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1095g - 133 x 94 x 145mm
  • Released September 2017
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX10 III
Photography Glossary

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX10 IV Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX10 IV, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the PEN-F (20MP) and the RX10 IV (20MP) is relatively close but the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and RX10 IV (1") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The PEN-F was announced 19 months prior to the RX10 IV which makes them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX10 IV being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the PEN-F grades against the RX10 IV in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Sony RX10 IV

 PEN-F RX10 IV 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 IV over the Olympus PEN-F

 RX10 IV PEN-F 
ReleasedSeptember 2017January 2016More recent by 19 months
Screen resolution1440k1037kClearer screen (+403k dot)

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Sony RX10 IV

 PEN-F RX10 IV 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX10 IV Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Olympus PEN-F offers outer measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") and a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Sony RX10 IV has specifications of 133mm x 94mm x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7") along with a weight of 1095 grams (2.41 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX10 IV in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the PEN-F against the RX10 IV.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX10 IV size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and RX10 IV is 84 and 52 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX10 IV top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX10 IV Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements only by researching specifications. The visual below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and RX10 IV.

Plainly, the two cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit not the same sensor measurements. The PEN-F has got the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult. The older PEN-F will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX10 IV sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography features
Sony RX10 IV Portrait photography features
75
focusing manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
71
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus PEN-F
Street photography with Sony RX10 IV
84
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
64
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW files
features touch focus
weather proofing
heavier than competition in class (1,095 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus PEN-F
Sports photography with Sony RX10 IV
67
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
low battery (330 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
76
incredible zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
high frames per second (24.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus PEN-F
Travel photography with Sony RX10 IV
75
boasts touch focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
low battery (330 CIPA)
56
weather proofing
has bluetooth
features touch focus
good resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (1,095 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography features
Sony RX10 IV Landscape photography features
76
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
low battery (330 CIPA)
62
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus PEN-F
Vlogging with Sony RX10 IV
78
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no external microphone support
29
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external mic port
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
does not feature selfie friendly display
heavier than competition in class (1,095g)
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX10 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Sony RX10 IV
 Olympus PEN-FSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN-F Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Class Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-01-27 2017-09-12
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO 80 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 81 315
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-600mm (25.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.4-4.0
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 24.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427 grams (0.94 pounds) 1095 grams (2.41 pounds)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 133 x 94 x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 400 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $1,000 $1,698