Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A1
The Olympus OM-D E-M1X and the Sony A1 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in January 2019 and January 2021. Both the E-M1X and the A1 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on a Four Thirds (E-M1X) and a full frame (A1) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 49.8 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus OM-D E-M1X and the Sony A1? 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.
Body comparison
An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-M1X and the Sony A1 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 measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The E-M1X can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the A1 is only available in black.



If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A1 is considerably smaller (41 percent) than the Olympus E-M1X. Moreover, the A1 is markedly lighter (26 percent) than the E-M1X. 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 Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-M1X) and the Sony FE Lens Catalog (A1). Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.
Concerning battery life, the E-M1X gets 870 shots out of its BLH-1 battery, while the A1 can take 530 images on a single charge of its NP-FZ100 power pack. As can be seen in the images above, the E-M1X has a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power. In order to provide similar functionality for the A1, Sony provides the VG-C4EM vertical grip as an optional accessory (see here on eBay). The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.
The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) | Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-M1X | 144 mm | 147 mm | 75 mm | 997 g | 870 | Y | Jan 2019 | 2,999 | ||
2. | Sony A1 | 129 mm | 97 mm | 81 mm | 737 g | 530 | Y | Jan 2021 | 6,499 | ||
3. | Canon R6 | 138 mm | 98 mm | 88 mm | 680 g | 360 | Y | Jul 2020 | 2,499 | ||
4. | Olympus E-M1 III | 134 mm | 91 mm | 69 mm | 580 g | 420 | Y | Feb 2020 | 1,799 | ||
5. | Olympus E-M10 IV | 122 mm | 84 mm | 49 mm | 383 g | 360 | n | Aug 2020 | 699 | ||
6. | Olympus E-M5 III | 125 mm | 85 mm | 50 mm | 414 g | 310 | Y | Oct 2019 | 1,199 | ||
7. | Olympus E-M1 II | 134 mm | 91 mm | 67 mm | 574 g | 440 | Y | Sep 2016 | 1,999 | ||
8. | Panasonic S1 | 149 mm | 110 mm | 97 mm | 1017 g | 400 | Y | Feb 2019 | 2,499 | ||
9. | Panasonic S1R | 149 mm | 110 mm | 97 mm | 1016 g | 380 | Y | Feb 2019 | 3,699 | ||
10. | Panasonic G90 | 130 mm | 94 mm | 77 mm | 536 g | 290 | Y | Apr 2019 | 999 | ||
11. | Panasonic S1H | 151 mm | 114 mm | 110 mm | 1052 g | 400 | Y | May 2019 | 3,999 | ||
12. | Sony A7S III | 127 mm | 97 mm | 81 mm | 699 g | 600 | Y | Jul 2020 | 3,499 | ||
13. | Sony A7R IV | 129 mm | 96 mm | 78 mm | 665 g | 670 | Y | Jul 2019 | 3,499 | ||
14. | Sony A7R III | 127 mm | 96 mm | 74 mm | 650 g | 650 | Y | Oct 2017 | 3,199 | ||
15. | Sony A9 | 127 mm | 96 mm | 63 mm | 673 g | 650 | Y | Apr 2017 | 4,499 | ||
16. | Sony A7R II | 127 mm | 96 mm | 60 mm | 625 g | 290 | Y | Jun 2015 | 3,199 | ||
17. | Sony A900 | 156 mm | 117 mm | 82 mm | 895 g | 880 | Y | Sep 2008 | 2,999 | ||
Notes: 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-M1X was launched at a markedly lower price (by 54 percent) than the A1, 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Sensor comparison
The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the 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-M1X features a Four Thirds sensor and the Sony A1 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A1 is 283 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-M1X has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the A1 offers a 3:2 aspect.

With 49.8MP, the A1 offers a higher resolution than the E-M1X (20.2MP), but the A1 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.16μm versus 3.34μm for the E-M1X) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the A1 is a much more recent model (by 2 years) than the E-M1X, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.
The resolution advantage of the Sony A1 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A1 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 43.2 x 28.8 inches or 109.7 x 73.2 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 34.6 x 23 inches or 87.8 x 58.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 28.8 x 19.2 inches or 73.2 x 48.8 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-M1X are 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm for good quality, 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm for very good quality, and 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm for excellent quality prints.
Both cameras have the capacity to capture high quality composite images by combining multiple shots after shifting the sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).
The Olympus OM-D E-M1X has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 64-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony A1 are ISO 100 to ISO 32000, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 500-102400.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports | DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-M1X | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
2. | Sony A1 | Full Frame | 49.8 | 8640 | 5760 | 8k/30p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
3. | Canon R6 | Full Frame | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4k/60p | 24.2 | 14.3 | 3394 | 90 | |
4. | Olympus E-M1 III | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
5. | Olympus E-M10 IV | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
6. | Olympus E-M5 III | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
7. | Olympus E-M1 II | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 23.7 | 12.8 | 1312 | 80 | |
8. | Panasonic S1 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/60p | 25.2 | 14.5 | 3333 | 95 | |
9. | Panasonic S1R | Full Frame | 46.7 | 8368 | 5584 | 4K/60p | 26.4 | 14.1 | 3525 | 100 | |
10. | Panasonic G90 | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
11. | Panasonic S1H | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 6K/30p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
12. | Sony A7S III | Full Frame | 12.0 | 4240 | 2832 | 4K/120p | 23.7 | 13.9 | 2520 | 86 | |
13. | Sony A7R IV | Full Frame | 60.2 | 9504 | 6336 | 4K/30p | 26.0 | 14.8 | 3344 | 99 | |
14. | Sony A7R III | Full Frame | 42.2 | 7952 | 5304 | 4K/30p | 26.0 | 14.7 | 3523 | 100 | |
15. | Sony A9 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 24.9 | 13.3 | 3517 | 92 | |
16. | Sony A7R II | Full Frame | 42.2 | 7952 | 5304 | 4K/30p | 26.0 | 13.9 | 3434 | 98 | |
17. | Sony A900 | Full Frame | 24.4 | 6048 | 4032 | none | 23.7 | 12.3 | 1431 | 79 |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the A1 provides a better video resolution than the E-M1X. It can shoot movie footage at 8k/30p, while the Olympus is limited to 4K/30p.
Feature comparison
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the A1 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the E-M1X (9437k vs 2360k dots). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Olympus E-M1X and Sony A1 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.
Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Size (inch) |
LCD Resolution (000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Mech Shutter Speed |
Shutter Flaps (1/sec) | Built-in Flash (yes/no) | Built-in Image Stab |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-M1X | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1037 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 18.0 | n | Y | |
2. | Sony A1 | 9437 | n | 3.0 | 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0 | n | Y | |
3. | Canon R6 | 5760 | n | 3.0 | 1620 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 12.0 | n | Y | |
4. | Olympus E-M1 III | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1037 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 18.0 | n | Y | |
5. | Olympus E-M10 IV | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 15.0 | Y | Y | |
6. | Olympus E-M5 III | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0 | n | Y | |
7. | Olympus E-M1 II | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1037 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 18.0 | n | Y | |
8. | Panasonic S1 | 5760 | Y | 3.2 | 2100 | full-flex | Y | 1/8000s | 9.0 | n | Y | |
9. | Panasonic S1R | 5760 | Y | 3.2 | 2100 | full-flex | Y | 1/8000s | 9.0 | n | Y | |
10. | Panasonic G90 | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1240 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 9.0 | Y | Y | |
11. | Panasonic S1H | 5760 | Y | 3.2 | 2330 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 9.0 | n | Y | |
12. | Sony A7S III | 9440 | n | 3.0 | 1440 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0 | n | Y | |
13. | Sony A7R IV | 5760 | n | 3.0 | 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0 | n | Y | |
14. | Sony A7R III | 3686 | n | 3.0 | 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0 | n | Y | |
15. | Sony A9 | 3686 | n | 3.0 | 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 20.0 | n | Y | |
16. | Sony A7R II | 2400 | n | 3.0 | 1229 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 5.0 | n | Y | |
17. | Sony A900 | optical | Y | 3.0 | 922 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 5.0 | n | Y |
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, both cameras under consideration feature an 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 Olympus E-M1X and the Sony A1 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.
The E-M1X writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A1 uses CFexpress or SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. Both cameras support UHS-II cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s.
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 OM-D E-M1X and Sony A1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Microphone |
Internal Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support | NFC Support | Bluetooth Support |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-M1X | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.0 | Y | - | Y | |
2. | Sony A1 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
3. | Canon R6 | Y | mono | mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
4. | Olympus E-M1 III | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
5. | Olympus E-M10 IV | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
6. | Olympus E-M5 III | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
7. | Olympus E-M1 II | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.0 | Y | - | - | |
8. | Panasonic S1 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | full | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
9. | Panasonic S1R | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | full | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
10. | Panasonic G90 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
11. | Panasonic S1H | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | full | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
12. | Sony A7S III | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
13. | Sony A7R IV | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | Y | Y | |
14. | Sony A7R III | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | Y | Y | |
15. | Sony A9 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
16. | Sony A7R II | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
17. | Sony A900 | Y | - | - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - |
Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.
Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the E-M1X has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.
Both the E-M1X and the A1 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. Neither of the two has a direct predecessor, so perhaps they will constitute the origins of new camera lines for Olympus and Sony. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Olympus and Sony websites.
Review summary
So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Olympus E-M1X and the Sony A1? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Reasons to prefer the Olympus OM-D E-M1X:
- More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
- More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (18 vs 10 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- More portrait friendly: Features an integrated vertical grip for easier portrait shooting.
- Longer lasting: Can take more shots (870 versus 530) on a single battery charge.
- Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
- More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (54 percent cheaper at launch).
- More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2019).

Advantages of the Sony A1:
- More detail: Has more megapixels (49.8 vs 20.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 60%.
- 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.
- Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (8k/30p vs 4K/30p).
- More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (9437k vs 2360k dots).
- Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.9x vs 0.83x).
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1440k vs 1037k dots).
- More compact: Is smaller (129x97mm vs 144x147mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
- Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 260g or 26 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
- More modern: Reflects 2 years of technical progress since the E-M1X launch.
If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A1 is the clear winner of the contest (12 : 8 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 wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-M1X and the Sony A1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the E-M1X or the A1 perform in practice. 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 where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], 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.
Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-M1X | 4.5/5 | o | .. | 4.5/5 | .. | Jan 2019 | 2,999 | ||
2. | Sony A1 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Jan 2021 | 6,499 | ||
3. | Canon R6 | 5/5 | + + | 90/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Jul 2020 | 2,499 | ||
4. | Olympus E-M1 III | 5/5 | .. | 83/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2020 | 1,799 | ||
5. | Olympus E-M10 IV | 4.5/5 | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2020 | 699 | ||
6. | Olympus E-M5 III | 5/5 | + | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2019 | 1,199 | ||
7. | Olympus E-M1 II | 5/5 | + + | 85/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2016 | 1,999 | ||
8. | Panasonic S1 | 4.5/5 | + + | 88/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2019 | 2,499 | ||
9. | Panasonic S1R | 4.5/5 | .. | 89/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2019 | 3,699 | ||
10. | Panasonic G90 | 4.5/5 | + | 83/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Apr 2019 | 999 | ||
11. | Panasonic S1H | .. | .. | 90/100 | .. | .. | May 2019 | 3,999 | ||
12. | Sony A7S III | .. | + + | 91/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Jul 2020 | 3,499 | ||
13. | Sony A7R IV | 5/5 | + | 91/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Jul 2019 | 3,499 | ||
14. | Sony A7R III | .. | + + | 90/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Oct 2017 | 3,199 | ||
15. | Sony A9 | 5/5 | + + | 89/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Apr 2017 | 4,499 | ||
16. | Sony A7R II | 5/5 | + + | 90/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Jun 2015 | 3,199 | ||
17. | Sony A900 | .. | + + | + + | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Sep 2008 | 2,999 | ||
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.
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Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
Specifications: Olympus E-M1X vs Sony A1
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 Model | Olympus E-M1X | Sony A1 |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | Mirrorless system camera |
Camera Lens | Micro Four Thirds lenses | Sony E mount lenses |
Launch Date | January 2019 | January 2021 |
Launch Price | USD 2,999 | USD 6,499 |
Sensor Specs | Olympus E-M1X | Sony A1 |
Sensor Technology | CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor Format | Four Thirds Sensor | Full Frame Sensor |
Sensor Size | 17.3 x 13.0 mm | 35.9 x 24.0 mm |
Sensor Area | 224.9 mm2 | 861.6 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 21.6 mm | 43.2 mm |
Crop Factor | 2.0x | 1.0x |
Sensor Resolution | 20.2 Megapixels | 49.8 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 5184 x 3888 pixels | 8640 x 5760 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 3.34 μm | 4.16 μm |
Pixel Density | 8.96 MP/cm2 | 5.78 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | no AA filter | no AA filter |
Movie Capability | 4K/30p Video | 8k/30p Video |
ISO Setting | 200 - 25,600 ISO | 100 - 32,000 ISO |
ISO Boost | 64 - 25,600 ISO | 500 - 102,400 ISO |
Image Processor | Dual TruePic VIII | Dual BIONZ XR |
Screen Specs | Olympus E-M1X | Sony A1 |
Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | Electronic viewfinder |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | 100% |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.83x | 0.9x |
Viewfinder Resolution | 2360k dots | 9437k dots |
LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
Rear LCD Size | 3.0inch | 3.0inch |
LCD Resolution | 1037k dots | 1440k dots |
LCD Attachment | Swivel screen | Tilting screen |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
Shooting Specs | Olympus E-M1X | Sony A1 |
Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | On-Sensor Phase-detect |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | Focus Peaking |
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) | 1/8000s | 1/8000s |
Continuous Shooting | 18 shutter flaps/s | 10 shutter flaps/s |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 200 000 actuations | 500 000 actuations |
Electronic Shutter | up to 1/32000s | up to 1/32000s |
Time-Lapse Photography | Intervalometer built-in | Intervalometer built-in |
Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | In-body stabilization |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | no On-Board Flash |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | CFexpress or SDXC cards |
Second Storage Option | Dual card slots | Dual card slots |
UHS card support | Dual UHS-II | UHS-II |
Connectivity Specs | Olympus E-M1X | Sony A1 |
External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | PC Sync socket |
USB Connector | USB 3.0 | USB 3.2 |
HDMI Port | micro HDMI | mini HDMI |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | External MIC port |
Headphone Socket | Headphone port | Headphone port |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | Wifi built-in |
Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | Bluetooth built-in |
Geotagging | GPS built-in | no internal GPS |
Body Specs | Olympus E-M1X | Sony A1 |
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | Weathersealed body |
Battery Type | BLH-1 | NP-FZ100 |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 870 shots per charge | 530 shots per charge |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | USB charging |
Body Dimensions |
144 x 147 x 75 mm (5.7 x 5.8 x 3.0 in) |
129 x 97 x 81 mm (5.1 x 3.8 x 3.2 in) |
Camera Weight | 997 g (35.2 oz) | 737 g (26.0 oz) |
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