Olympus PEN-F vs Sony A57

In this article, we are contrasting the Olympus PEN-F vs Sony A57, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and A57 (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and A57 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The PEN-F was revealed 3 years after the A57 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the PEN-F grades versus the A57 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN-F & Sony SLT-A57. The full galleries are provided at Olympus PEN-F Gallery & Sony A57 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus PEN-F provides external measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") having a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony A57 has measurements of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") and a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Compare the Olympus PEN-F vs Sony A57 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the PEN-F vs the A57.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and A57 is 84 and 64 respectively.

Quite often, it is very hard to see the difference in sensor sizes just by researching specs. The image below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the PEN-F and A57.

All in all, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The PEN-F with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus PEN-F will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The younger PEN-F is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.