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Olympus E-1 vs Sony A9

The Olympus E-1 and the Sony Alpha A9 are two professional cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in June 2003 and April 2017. The E-1 is a DSLR, while the A9 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (E-1) and a full frame (A9) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 4.9 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Olympus E-1
versus
Sony A9
Olympus E-1   Sony A9
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Four Thirds lenses Sony E mount lenses
4.9 MP – Four Thirds sensor 24 MP – Full Frame sensor
no Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-800 (100 - 3,200) ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 204,800)
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (3686k dots)
1.8" LCD – 134k dots 3.0" LCD – 1440k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Tilting touchscreen
3 shutter flaps per second 20 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
750 shots per battery charge650 shots per battery charge
141 x 104 x 81 mm, 738 g 127 x 96 x 63 mm, 673 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus E-1 and the Sony Alpha A9? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-1 and the Sony A9 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Olympus E-1 vs Sony A9
Compare E-1 versus A9 top
Comparison E-1 or A9 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A9 is notably smaller (17 percent) than the Olympus E-1. Moreover, the A9 is markedly lighter (9 percent) than the E-1. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-1) and the Sony FE Lens Catalog (A9). Mirrorless cameras, such as the A9, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the E-1 gets 750 shots out of its Olympus BLM-1 battery, while the A9 can take 650 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FZ100 power pack. The power pack in the A9 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-1 141 mm 104 mm 81 mm 738 g 750 Y Jun 2003 US$ 1 699ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A9 127 mm 96 mm 63 mm 673 g 650 Y Apr 2017 US$ 4 499ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark II 144 mm 111 mm 75 mm 765 g 1200 Y Jun 2017 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon 7D 148 mm 111 mm 74 mm 860 g 800 Y Sep 2009 US$ 1 699ebay.com
5.
 
Leica Digilux 3 146 mm 87 mm 77 mm 606 g 750 n Sep 2006 US$ 1 499ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D500 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 860 g 1240 Y Jan 2016 US$ 1 999ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D610 141 mm 113 mm 82 mm 850 g 900 Y Oct 2013 US$ 1 999ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D7000 132 mm 105 mm 77 mm 780 g 1050 Y Sep 2010 US$ 1 499ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-3 142 mm 116 mm 75 mm 876 g 750 Y Oct 2007 US$ 1 699ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-5 142 mm 117 mm 75 mm 873 g 750 Y Sep 2010 US$ 1 699ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-300 147 mm 85 mm 64 mm 624 g 750 n Sep 2004 US$ 799ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-330 140 mm 87 mm 72 mm 637 g 750 n Jan 2006 US$ 999ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A7 II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 599 g 350 Y Nov 2014 US$ 1 999ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7 III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 610 Y Feb 2018 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
15.
 
Sony A7R IIIA 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Apr 2021 US$ 3 199 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A7R V 131 mm 97 mm 82 mm 723 g 530 Y Oct 2022 US$ 3 899 amazon.com
17.
 
Sony A9 II 129 mm 96 mm 76 mm 678 g 690 Y Oct 2019 US$ 4 499 amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The E-1 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 62 percent) than the A9, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus E-1 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Sony A9 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A9 is 276 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.0. The sensor in the E-1 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the A9 offers a 3:2 aspect.

Olympus E-1 and Sony A9 sensor measures

With 24MP, the A9 offers a higher resolution than the E-1 (4.9MP), but the A9 has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 6.78μm for the E-1). Yet, the A9 is a much more recent model (by 13 years and 9 months) than the E-1, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A9 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A9 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-1 are 12.8 x 9.6 inches or 32.5 x 24.4 cm for good quality, 10.2 x 7.7 inches or 26 x 19.5 cm for very good quality, and 8.5 x 6.4 inches or 21.7 x 16.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The A9 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Olympus E-1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 800, which can be extended to ISO 100-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A9 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-204800.

In terms of underlying technology, the E-1 is build around a CCD sensor, while the A9 uses a Stacked BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

E-1 versus A9 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus E-1 Four Thirds 4.9 2560 1920none20.09.7-14544
2.
 
Sony A9 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.913.3351792
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark II Full Frame 26.0 6240 41601080/60p24.411.9286285
4.
 
Canon 7D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.785466
5.
 
Leica Digilux 3 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none21.010.612753
6.
 
Nikon D500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.014.0132483
7.
 
Nikon D610 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/30p25.114.4292594
8.
 
Nikon D7000 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/24p23.513.9116780
9.
 
Olympus E-3 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.610.557156
10.
 
Olympus E-5 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.610.551956
11.
 
Olympus E-300 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448none20.410.1-4048
12.
 
Olympus E-330 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none20.810.47352
13.
 
Sony A7 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.913.6244990
14.
 
Sony A7 III Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.7373096
15.
 
Sony A7R IIIA Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
16.
 
Sony A7R V Full Frame 60.2 9504 63368k/24p26.514.83187100
17.
 
Sony A9 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.0343493
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The A9 indeed provides for movie recording, while the E-1 does not. The highest resolution format that the A9 can use is 4K/30p.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A9 has an electronic viewfinder (3686k dots), while the E-1 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the A9 has a higher magnification than the one of the E-1 (0.78x vs 0.48x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Olympus E-1 and Sony A9 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Olympus E-1optical Y1.8 / 134 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n n
2.
 
Sony A93686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark IIoptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.5/s n n
4.
 
Canon 7Doptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
5.
 
Leica Digilux 3optical n2.5 / 207 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
6.
 
Nikon D500optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
7.
 
Nikon D610optical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
8.
 
Nikon D7000optical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
9.
 
Olympus E-3optical Y2.5 / 230 swivel n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Olympus E-5optical Y3.0 / 920 swivel n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Olympus E-300optical n1.8 / 134 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
12.
 
Olympus E-330optical n2.5 / 215 tilting n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
13.
 
Sony A7 II2400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
14.
 
Sony A7 III2359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
15.
 
Sony A7R IIIA3686 n3.0 / 2340 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
16.
 
Sony A7R V9440 n3.2 / 2100 full-flex Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
17.
 
Sony A9 II3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that is present on the E-1, but is missing on the A9 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the A9 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The E-1 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards, while the A9 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus E-1 and Sony Alpha A9 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Olympus E-1Y- / ----2.0---
2.
 
Sony A9Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0YYY
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark IIYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
4.
 
Canon 7DYmono / -Y-mini2.0---
5.
 
Leica Digilux 3Ystereo / mono---2.0---
6.
 
Nikon D500Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0YYY
7.
 
Nikon D610Ymono / monoYYmini2.0---
8.
 
Nikon D7000Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
9.
 
Olympus E-3Y- / ----2.0---
10.
 
Olympus E-5Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
11.
 
Olympus E-300Y- / ----2.0---
12.
 
Olympus E-330Y- / ----2.0---
13.
 
Sony A7 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
14.
 
Sony A7 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
15.
 
Sony A7R IIIAYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2YYY
16.
 
Sony A7R VYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
17.
 
Sony A9 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY

It is notable that the A9 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the E-1 does not provide wifi capability.

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

Both the E-1 and the A9 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-1 was replaced by the Olympus E-3, while the A9 was followed by the Sony A9 II. Further information on the features and operation of the E-1 and A9 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A9 Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Olympus E-1 or the Sony A9 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Advantages of the Olympus E-1:

  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (750 versus 650) on a single battery charge.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (62 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in June 2003).

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Arguments in favor of the Sony Alpha A9:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 4.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 125%.
  • Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
  • Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
  • Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 4K/30p video.
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.78x vs 0.48x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 1.8") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1440k vs 134k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (20 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (127x96mm vs 141x104mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • More modern: Reflects 13 years and 9 months of technical progress since the E-1 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A9 is the clear winner of the contest (24 : 5 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-1 05:24 A9

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-1 and the Sony A9 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-1 or the A9. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-1......+o.. Jun 2003 US$ 1 699ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A95/5+ +4.8/589/1005/55/5 Apr 2017 US$ 4 499ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark II4/5+4/580/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2017 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon 7D5/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 US$ 1 699ebay.com
5.
 
Leica Digilux 3............ Sep 2006 US$ 1 499ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D5005/5+ +4.7/591/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 US$ 1 999ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D6104/5+ +..87/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 US$ 1 999ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D70004/5....80/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2010 US$ 1 499ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-3..88/100..+ +o4/5 Oct 2007 US$ 1 699ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-54/5....75/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2010 US$ 1 699ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-300......+o4.5/5 Sep 2004 US$ 799ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-330......+o.. Jan 2006 US$ 999ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A7 II5/5+4/582/1004.5/55/5 Nov 2014 US$ 1 999ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7 III..+ +4.5/589/1005/55/5 Feb 2018 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
15.
 
Sony A7R IIIA..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Apr 2021 US$ 3 199 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A7R V5/5+ +4.5/592/100.... Oct 2022 US$ 3 899 amazon.com
17.
 
Sony A9 II....5/590/1005/55/5 Oct 2019 US$ 4 499 amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Olympus E-1 vs Sony A9

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Olympus E-1 Sony A9
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Four Thirds lenses Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date June 2003 April 2017
    Launch Price USD 1,699 USD 4,499
    Sensor Specs Olympus E-1 Sony A9
    Sensor Technology CCD Stacked BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 35.6 x 23.8 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 847.28 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 42.8 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 4.9 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 2560 x 1920 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 6.78 μm 5.94 μm
    Pixel Density 2.19 MP/cm2 2.83 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 800 ISO 100 - 51,200 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 3,200 ISO 50 - 204,800 ISO
    Image Processor TruePic BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 92
    DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 24.9
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 13.3
    DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 3517
    Screen Specs Olympus E-1 Sony A9
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.48x 0.78x
    Viewfinder Resolution 3686k dots
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    Rear LCD Size 1.8inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 134k dots 1440k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Tilting screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Olympus E-1 Sony A9
    Focus System Phase-detect AF On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 20 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy150 000 actuations500 000 actuations
    Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/32000s
    Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium CF or XD cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Dual card slots
    Connectivity Specs Olympus E-1 Sony A9
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Olympus E-1 Sony A9
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Olympus BLM-1 Sony NP-FZ100
    Battery Life (CIPA)750 shots per charge650 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 141 x 104 x 81 mm
    (5.6 x 4.1 x 3.2 in)
    127 x 96 x 63 mm
    (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.5 in)
    Camera Weight 738 g (26.0 oz) 673 g (23.7 oz)
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    Check E-1 offers at
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    Check A9 offers at
    ebay.com

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