Olympus 1 vs Sony A700

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus 1 and Sony A700, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the 1 (12MP) and the A700 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the 1 (1/1.7") and A700 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The 1 was announced 6 years later than the A700 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A700 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summary of how the 1 grades versus the A700 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus 1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A700. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus 1 Gallery and Sony A700 Gallery.

For those who are intending to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus 1 comes with external dimensions of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") having a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs) and the Sony A700 has sizing of 142mm x 105mm x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 768 grams (1.69 lbs).

Compare the Olympus 1 and Sony A700 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the 1 compared to the A700.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the 1 and A700 is 79 and 58 respectively.

Often, it can be hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading through specifications. The graphic here will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 and A700.

To sum up, both of those cameras come with the identical MP albeit not the same sensor sizing. The 1 has the tinier sensor which will make getting shallower DOF more difficult. The newer 1 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.