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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX100 V

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V front
Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
80
Overall
63

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX100 V Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Released January 2016
Sony RX100 V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched October 2016
  • Succeeded the Sony RX100 IV
  • Newer Model is Sony RX100 VI
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX100 V Overview

Here is a complete assessment of the Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX100 V, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the PEN-F (20MP) and the RX100 V (20MP) is relatively comparable but the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and RX100 V (1") have different sensor measurements.

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The PEN-F was announced 8 months earlier than the RX100 V and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 V being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the PEN-F scores against the RX100 V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Sony RX100 V

 PEN-F RX100 V 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 V over the Olympus PEN-F

 RX100 V PEN-F 
LaunchedOctober 2016January 2016Fresher by 8 months
Screen resolution1229k1037kCrisper screen (+192k dot)

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Sony RX100 V

 PEN-F RX100 V 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX100 V Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera often, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus PEN-F comes with outer dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony RX100 V has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") along with a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

Look at the Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX100 V in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the PEN-F compared to the RX100 V.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX100 V size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and RX100 V is 84 and 89 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX100 V top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX100 V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing simply by going through technical specs. The visual underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the PEN-F and RX100 V.

As you can tell, the two cameras have the same megapixel count albeit different sensor sizing. The PEN-F comes with the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF easier. The older PEN-F will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX100 V sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX100 V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX100 V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX100 V Portrait photography highlights
75
has manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
66
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 V as a Street photography camera
84
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (299g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography factors
Sony RX100 V Sports photography factors
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
terrible battery (330 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
70
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
high fps (24.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
comes with tracking focus
comes with phase detect autofocus
low battery (220 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography highlights
Sony RX100 V Travel photography highlights
75
boasts focus by touch
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery (330 per charge)
80
lighter than competition in class (299g)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
pretty wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
low battery (220 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography info
Sony RX100 V Landscape photography info
76
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
terrible battery (330 per charge)
70
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW formats
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
low battery (220 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging highlights
Sony RX100 V Vlogging highlights
78
screen is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
missing external mic socket
81
pretty wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (299g)
lack of mic support
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony RX100 V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Sony RX100 V
 Olympus PEN-FSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN-F Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V
Type Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Released 2016-01-27 2016-10-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO 80 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 315
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.59x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000s 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 24.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.20 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) -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000s
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 / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427 gr (0.94 lbs) 299 gr (0.66 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 70
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 12.4
DXO Low light rating 894 586
Other
Battery life 330 shots 220 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $1,000 $998