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Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A9

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus VR-340 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Olympus VR-340
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.0-5.7) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Released January 2012
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Push to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Launched April 2017
  • Updated by Sony A9 II
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Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A9 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Olympus VR-340 versus Sony A9, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the VR-340 (16MP) and A9 (24MP) and the VR-340 (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) feature different sensor sizes.

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The VR-340 was manufactured 6 years earlier than the A9 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a brief overview of how the VR-340 grades versus the A9 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Sony A9

 VR-340 A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Olympus VR-340

 A9 VR-340 
LaunchedApril 2017January 2012More modern by 64 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k460kClearer screen (+980k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus VR-340 and Sony A9

 VR-340 A9 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus VR-340 comes with outer dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Sony A9 has specifications of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VR-340 versus Sony A9 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the VR-340 versus the A9.

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VR-340 and A9 is 96 and 65 respectively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through specs. The image below should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the VR-340 and A9.

All in all, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The VR-340 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh harder and the Sony A9 will render extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged VR-340 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Portrait photography factors
Sony A9 Portrait photography factors
34
good megapixels (16MP)
has face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
83
has manual focus
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Street photography features
Sony A9 Street photography features
63
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (125 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
79
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
supports touch focus
environment proof
great high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Sports photography info
Sony A9 Sports photography info
44
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
86
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
great battery (650 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Travel photography highlights
Sony A9 Travel photography highlights
69
lighter than others (125 grams)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
no Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
73
great battery (650 shots)
environment proof
supports bluetooth
supports touch focus
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Landscape photography advice
Sony A9 Landscape photography advice
43
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse function
85
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
great high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
great battery (650 per charge)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Vlogging highlights
Sony A9 Vlogging highlights
33
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
lighter than others (125g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone port
36
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external microphone support
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-340 and Sony A9
 Olympus VR-340Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VR-340 Sony Alpha A9
Type Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Released 2012-01-10 2017-04-19
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 51200
Maximum boosted ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 693
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.7 -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 20.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.80 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 grams (0.28 pounds) 673 grams (1.48 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 92
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 3517
Other
Battery life - 650 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots One Dual
Pricing at launch $130 $4,498