Sony A7 II vs Olympus E-1
The Sony Alpha A7 II and the Olympus E-1 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in November 2014 and June 2003. The A7 II is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the E-1 is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a full frame (A7 II) and a Four Thirds (E-1) sensor. The Sony has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 4.9 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 Sony Alpha A7 II and the Olympus E-1? 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 Sony A7 II and the Olympus E-1 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-1 is notably larger (20 percent) than the Sony A7 II. Moreover, the E-1 is markedly heavier (23 percent) than the A7 II. 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 Sony FE Lens Catalog (A7 II) and the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-1). Mirrorless cameras, such as the Sony A7 II, have moreover the advantage that they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance and can thus use many lenses from other systems via adapters.
Concerning battery life, the A7 II gets 350 shots out of its Sony NP-FW50 battery, while the E-1 can take 750 images on a single charge of its Olympus BLM-1 power pack. The power pack in the A7 II can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.
The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. 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.
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Sony A7 II | 127 mm | 96 mm | 60 mm | 599 g | 350 | Y | Nov 2014 | 1,999 | ebay.com | |
2. | Olympus E-1 | 141 mm | 104 mm | 81 mm | 738 g | 750 | Y | Jun 2003 | 1,699 | ebay.com | |
3. | Leica Digilux 3 | 146 mm | 87 mm | 77 mm | 606 g | 750 | n | Sep 2006 | 1,499 | ebay.com | |
4. | Olympus E-3 | 142 mm | 116 mm | 75 mm | 876 g | 750 | Y | Oct 2007 | 1,699 | ebay.com | |
5. | Olympus E-5 | 142 mm | 117 mm | 75 mm | 873 g | 750 | Y | Sep 2010 | 1,699 | ebay.com | |
6. | Olympus E-300 | 147 mm | 85 mm | 64 mm | 624 g | 750 | n | Sep 2004 | 799 | ebay.com | |
7. | Olympus E-330 | 140 mm | 87 mm | 72 mm | 637 g | 750 | n | Jan 2006 | 999 | ebay.com | |
8. | Sony A7 | 127 mm | 94 mm | 48 mm | 474 g | 340 | Y | Oct 2013 | 1,699 | ebay.com | |
9. | Sony A7 III | 127 mm | 96 mm | 74 mm | 650 g | 610 | Y | Feb 2018 | 1,999 | amazon.com | |
10. | Sony A7C | 124 mm | 71 mm | 60 mm | 509 g | 740 | Y | Sep 2020 | 1,799 | amazon.com | |
11. | Sony A7R | 127 mm | 94 mm | 48 mm | 465 g | 340 | Y | Oct 2013 | 2,299 | ebay.com | |
12. | Sony A7R II | 127 mm | 96 mm | 60 mm | 625 g | 290 | Y | Jun 2015 | 3,199 | ebay.com | |
13. | Sony A7R III | 127 mm | 96 mm | 74 mm | 650 g | 650 | Y | Oct 2017 | 3,199 | ebay.com | |
14. | Sony A7S II | 127 mm | 96 mm | 60 mm | 627 g | 370 | Y | Sep 2015 | 2,999 | ebay.com | |
15. | Sony A9 | 127 mm | 96 mm | 63 mm | 673 g | 650 | Y | Apr 2017 | 4,499 | ebay.com | |
16. | Sony A9 II | 129 mm | 96 mm | 76 mm | 678 g | 690 | Y | Oct 2019 | 4,499 | amazon.com | |
17. | Sony A77 | 143 mm | 104 mm | 81 mm | 732 g | 470 | Y | Aug 2011 | 1,399 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The E-1 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 15 percent) than the A7 II, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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 imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors 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 are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Of the two cameras under consideration, the Sony A7 II features a full frame sensor and the Olympus E-1 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the E-1 is 74 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 2.0. The sensor in the A7 II has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the E-1 offers a 4:3 aspect.
With 24MP, the A7 II offers a higher resolution than the E-1 (4.9MP), but the A7 II has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.97μm versus 6.78μm for the E-1). However, the A7 II is a much more recent model (by 11 years and 4 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 pixels.
The resolution advantage of the Sony A7 II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A7 II 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 A7 II has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.
The Sony Alpha A7 II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 50-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus E-1 are ISO 100 to ISO 800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-3200.
In terms of underlying technology, the A7 II is build around a CMOS sensor, while the E-1 uses a CCD 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.
For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Sony A7 II | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.9 | 13.6 | 2449 | 90 | |
2. | Olympus E-1 | Four Thirds | 4.9 | 2560 | 1920 | none | 20.0 | 9.7 | -145 | 44 | |
3. | Leica Digilux 3 | Four Thirds | 7.4 | 3136 | 2352 | none | 21.0 | 10.6 | 127 | 53 | |
4. | Olympus E-3 | Four Thirds | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | none | 21.6 | 10.5 | 571 | 56 | |
5. | Olympus E-5 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 720/30p | 21.6 | 10.5 | 519 | 56 | |
6. | Olympus E-300 | Four Thirds | 8.0 | 3264 | 2448 | none | 20.4 | 10.1 | -40 | 48 | |
7. | Olympus E-330 | Four Thirds | 7.4 | 3136 | 2352 | none | 20.8 | 10.4 | 73 | 52 | |
8. | Sony A7 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.8 | 14.2 | 2248 | 90 | |
9. | Sony A7 III | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 14.7 | 3730 | 96 | |
10. | Sony A7C | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 14.7 | 3407 | 95 | |
11. | Sony A7R | Full Frame | 36.2 | 7360 | 4912 | 1080/60p | 25.6 | 14.1 | 2746 | 95 | |
12. | Sony A7R II | Full Frame | 42.2 | 7952 | 5304 | 4K/30p | 26.0 | 13.9 | 3434 | 98 | |
13. | Sony A7R III | Full Frame | 42.2 | 7952 | 5304 | 4K/30p | 26.0 | 14.7 | 3523 | 100 | |
14. | Sony A7S II | Full Frame | 12.0 | 4240 | 2832 | 4K/30p | 23.6 | 13.3 | 2993 | 85 | |
15. | Sony A9 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 24.9 | 13.3 | 3517 | 92 | |
16. | Sony A9 II | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 14.0 | 3434 | 93 | |
17. | Sony A77 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.0 | 13.2 | 801 | 78 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The A7 II indeed provides movie recording capabilities, while the E-1 does not. The highest resolution format that the A7 II can use is 1080/60p.
Feature comparison
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A7 II has an electronic viewfinder (2400k 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 A7 II has a higher magnification than the one of the E-1 (0.71x vs 0.48x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Sony A7 II and Olympus E-1 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.
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. | Sony A7 II | 2400 | n | 3.0 / 1230 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | Y | |
2. | Olympus E-1 | optical | Y | 1.8 / 134 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | n | n | |
3. | Leica Digilux 3 | optical | n | 2.5 / 207 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
4. | Olympus E-3 | optical | Y | 2.5 / 230 | swivel | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | Y | Y | |
5. | Olympus E-5 | optical | Y | 3.0 / 920 | swivel | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | Y | Y | |
6. | Olympus E-300 | optical | n | 1.8 / 134 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 2.5/s | Y | n | |
7. | Olympus E-330 | optical | n | 2.5 / 215 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
8. | Sony A7 | 2400 | n | 3.0 / 1230 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | n | |
9. | Sony A7 III | 2359 | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
10. | Sony A7C | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 922 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
11. | Sony A7R | 2400 | n | 3.0 / 1230 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 4.0/s | n | n | |
12. | Sony A7R II | 2400 | n | 3.0 / 1229 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | Y | |
13. | Sony A7R III | 3686 | n | 3.0 / 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
14. | Sony A7S II | 2400 | n | 3.0 / 1229 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | Y | |
15. | Sony A9 | 3686 | n | 3.0 / 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 20.0/s | n | Y | |
16. | Sony A9 II | 3686 | n | 3.0 / 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 20.0/s | n | Y | |
17. | Sony A77 | 2359 | Y | 3.0 / 921 | full-flex | n | 1/8000s | 12.0/s | Y | Y | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
One feature that differentiates the A7 II and the E-1 is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The A7 II reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the E-1 offers no blur reduction with lenses that themselves do not provide optical image stabilization.
The A7 II writes its imaging data to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards, while the E-1 uses Compact Flash or xD Picture cards. The E-1 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the A7 II only has one slot.
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 Sony Alpha A7 II and Olympus E-1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Sony A7 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
2. | Olympus E-1 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
3. | Leica Digilux 3 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
4. | Olympus E-3 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
5. | Olympus E-5 | Y | stereo / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
6. | Olympus E-300 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
7. | Olympus E-330 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
8. | Sony A7 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
9. | Sony A7 III | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | Y | Y | |
10. | Sony A7C | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.2 | Y | Y | Y | |
11. | Sony A7R | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
12. | Sony A7R II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
13. | Sony A7R III | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | Y | Y | |
14. | Sony A7S II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
15. | Sony A9 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
16. | Sony A9 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | Y | Y | |
17. | Sony A77 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - |
It is notable that the A7 II offers wifi support, while the E-1 does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.
Studio photographers will appreciate that the Olympus E-1 (unlike the A7 II) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.
Both the A7 II and the E-1 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-1 was replaced by the Olympus E-3, while the A7 II was followed by the Sony A7 III. Further information on the features and operation of the A7 II and E-1 can be found, respectively, in the Sony A7 II Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-1 Manual.
Review summary
So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Sony A7 II better than the Olympus E-1 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.
Advantages of the Sony Alpha A7 II:
- More detail: Offers more megapixels (24 vs 4.9MP) with a 125% higher linear resolution.
- Better image quality: Features a larger and more technologically advanced imaging 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 record not only still images but also 1080/60p movies.
- 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 (0.71x 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 (1230k vs 134k dots).
- More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
- Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- More compact: Is smaller (127x96mm vs 141x104mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
- Less heavy: Is lighter (by 139g or 19 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
- Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
- Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
- More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of 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.
- More modern: Reflects 11 years and 4 months of technical progress since the E-1 launch.
Reasons to prefer the Olympus E-1:
- Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
- Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
- Longer lasting: Gets more shots (750 versus 350) out of a single battery charge.
- Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
- Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
- More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (15 percent cheaper at launch).
- More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in June 2003).
If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the A7 II is the clear winner of the match-up (22 : 7 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. 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 Sony A7 II and the Olympus E-1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings 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 partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the A7 II or the E-1. 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 adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera 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.
Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Sony A7 II | 5/5 | + | 4/5 | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Nov 2014 | 1,999 | ebay.com | |
2. | Olympus E-1 | .. | .. | .. | + | o | .. | Jun 2003 | 1,699 | ebay.com | |
3. | Leica Digilux 3 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Sep 2006 | 1,499 | ebay.com | |
4. | Olympus E-3 | .. | 88/100 | .. | + + | o | 4/5 | Oct 2007 | 1,699 | ebay.com | |
5. | Olympus E-5 | 4/5 | .. | .. | 75/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2010 | 1,699 | ebay.com | |
6. | Olympus E-300 | .. | .. | .. | + | o | 4.5/5 | Sep 2004 | 799 | ebay.com | |
7. | Olympus E-330 | .. | .. | .. | + | o | .. | Jan 2006 | 999 | ebay.com | |
8. | Sony A7 | 5/5 | + + | .. | 80/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Oct 2013 | 1,699 | ebay.com | |
9. | Sony A7 III | .. | + + | 4.5/5 | 89/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2018 | 1,999 | amazon.com | |
10. | Sony A7C | 3.5/5 | .. | 3.5/5 | 86/100 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Sep 2020 | 1,799 | amazon.com | |
11. | Sony A7R | 5/5 | + + | .. | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Oct 2013 | 2,299 | ebay.com | |
12. | Sony A7R II | 5/5 | + + | 5/5 | 90/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Jun 2015 | 3,199 | ebay.com | |
13. | Sony A7R III | .. | + + | 4/5 | 90/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Oct 2017 | 3,199 | ebay.com | |
14. | Sony A7S II | 5/5 | + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Sep 2015 | 2,999 | ebay.com | |
15. | Sony A9 | 5/5 | + + | 4.8/5 | 89/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Apr 2017 | 4,499 | ebay.com | |
16. | Sony A9 II | .. | .. | 5/5 | 90/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Oct 2019 | 4,499 | amazon.com | |
17. | Sony A77 | 5/5 | 91/100 | .. | 81/100 | .. | 5/5 | Aug 2011 | 1,399 | ebay.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.
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 make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
Specifications: Sony A7 II vs Olympus E-1
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 | Sony A7 II | Olympus E-1 |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | Digital single lens reflex |
Camera Lens | Sony E mount lenses | Four Thirds lenses |
Launch Date | November 2014 | June 2003 |
Launch Price | USD 1,999 | USD 1,699 |
Sensor Specs | Sony A7 II | Olympus E-1 |
Sensor Technology | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | Four Thirds Sensor |
Sensor Size | 35.8 x 23.9 mm | 17.3 x 13.0 mm |
Sensor Area | 855.62 mm2 | 224.9 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 43 mm | 21.6 mm |
Crop Factor | 1.0x | 2.0x |
Sensor Resolution | 24 Megapixels | 4.9 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 6000 x 4000 pixels | 2560 x 1920 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 5.97 μm | 6.78 μm |
Pixel Density | 2.80 MP/cm2 | 2.19 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | Anti-Alias filter |
Movie Capability | 1080/60p Video | no Video |
ISO Setting | 100 - 25,600 ISO | 100 - 800 ISO |
ISO Boost | 50 - 51,200 ISO | 100 - 3,200 ISO |
Image Processor | BIONZ X | TruePic |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 90 | .. |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 24.9 | .. |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 13.6 | .. |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 2449 | .. |
Screen Specs | Sony A7 II | Olympus E-1 |
Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | Optical viewfinder |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | 100% |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.71x | 0.48x |
Viewfinder Resolution | 2400k dots | |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | Control Panel |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
Rear LCD Size | 3.0inch | 1.8inch |
LCD Resolution | 1230k dots | 134k dots |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | Fixed screen |
Shooting Specs | Sony A7 II | Olympus E-1 |
Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | Phase-detect AF |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | no Peaking Feature |
Continuous Shooting | 5 shutter flaps/s | 3 shutter flaps/s |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 200 000 actuations | 150 000 actuations |
Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | Lens stabilization only |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | no On-Board Flash |
Storage Medium | MS or SDXC cards | CF or XD cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Dual card slots |
Connectivity Specs | Sony A7 II | Olympus E-1 |
External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
Studio Flash | no PC Sync | PC Sync socket |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 |
HDMI Port | micro HDMI | no HDMI |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | no MIC socket |
Headphone Socket | Headphone port | no Headphone port |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | no Wifi |
Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | no NFC |
Body Specs | Sony A7 II | Olympus E-1 |
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | Weathersealed body |
Battery Type | Sony NP-FW50 | Olympus BLM-1 |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 350 shots per charge | 750 shots per charge |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | no USB charging |
Body Dimensions |
127 x 96 x 60 mm (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4 in) |
141 x 104 x 81 mm (5.6 x 4.1 x 3.2 in) |
Camera Weight | 599 g (21.1 oz) | 738 g (26.0 oz) |
Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.