• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • 35mm 847.3mm2
  • 12.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 102,400

Buy From

Differences

Olympus E-M1 advantages over Sony A7S II

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Fast startup
    ~0.80 vs 2.9 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • More pixels
    16.1 vs 12.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.9 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    9.9 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    50 vs 28 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/16000 vs 1/8000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony A7S II advantages over Olympus E-M1

  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 8.40 vs 3.75 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Higher effective ISO
    2,993 vs 757 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Higher extended ISO
    409600 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Exceptional rugged, weather-proof, professional build; Lightning fast contrast-detect AF, and phase-detect AF that makes Four Thirds lenses far more responsive; Tons of useful physical controls with immense customizability; Arguably the best image quality of any Micro Four Thirds camera we've tested to date; Large, sharp, high-resolution electronic viewfinder; Advanced Wi-Fi capabilities, including remote control shooting in PASM exposure modes.

  • Bigger and heavier than many other compact system cameras; Most expensive Micro Four Thirds camera on the market to date; Menu system and customization options have a steep learning curve; No optical low-pass filter means greater risk of moire; No built-in flash.

  • Comfortable and surprisingly compact camera body; Improved low light performance; Built-in image stabilization; Wide range of usable ISOs; More sophisticated autofocus performance; Excellent video capabilities.

  • Relatively low resolution; Mediocre continuous shooting performance; No built-in flash; No losslessly compressed RAW option.

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-M5

Olympus E-M1
Olympus E-M5
  • $1050
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Fast startup
  • $899
  • 4/3
  • Thinner
  • Shoots 60p video
Sony A7S II
Olympus E-M5
  • $2398
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $899
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Touchscreen

Compared to Panasonic GH3

Olympus E-M1
Panasonic GH3
  • $1050
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $798
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Longer stills battery life
Sony A7S II
Panasonic GH3
  • $2398
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $798
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection

Compared to Panasonic GH4

Olympus E-M1
Panasonic GH4
  • $1050
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Shoot 4K video
Sony A7S II
Panasonic GH4
  • $2398
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Slower slow-motion
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compared to Sony A7S

Olympus E-M1
Sony A7S
  • $1050
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1998
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
Sony A7S II
Sony A7S
  • $2398
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $1998
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup

Compared to Panasonic GX8

Olympus E-M1
Panasonic GX8
  • $1050
  • 4/3
  • Fast startup
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $998
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Shoot 4K video
Sony A7S II
Panasonic GX8
  • $2398
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $998
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
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