Olympus E-M10 vs Sony RX100 VII

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Olympus E-M10 vs Sony RX100 VII

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4/3 224.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-M10 Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus E-M10 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the E-M10.
Compare Olympus E-M10 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus E-M10 conclusion.

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 200.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX100 VII Review.
See real-world photos taken with the RX100 VII.

Succeeded by the Olympus E-M10 II
Compare E-M10 vs E-M10 II
Compare Olympus E-M10 II vs Sony RX100 VII

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Differences

Olympus E-M10 advantages over Sony RX100 VII

Larger sensor
4/3 vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 3.75 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~1.30 vs 1.8 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

320 vs 260 shots
Capture more photos
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots

Sony RX100 VII advantages over Olympus E-M10

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
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/250 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
5 years vs 11 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Less shutter lag
0.12 vs 0.23 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
20.1 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster JPEG shooting
20.0 fps vs 8.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
169 vs 19 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 fps vs 8.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
77 vs 15 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
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
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
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 GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Adorama
Read E-M10 User Reviews

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Sony RX100 VII

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Review Excerpt

Great image quality especially from RAW files; Excellent dynamic range for a Four Thirds sensor; Very good high ISO performance; Realistic colors and excellent hue accuracy; Built-in Wi-Fi with remote control and sharing features; Improved HD video; Lightweight and very portable; Built-in pop-up flash; Minimal EVF lag time.
Contrast-Detect AF struggles with small and low-contrast subjects; Mediocre battery life; No external microphone or headphone jack; Mediocre burst speed with continuous AF; No weather sealing; Heavy-handed high ISO noise reduction.
Read our Olympus E-M10 Review

We haven’t reviewed the Sony RX100 VII.
Read our Sony RX100 VII Initial Test

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-M10

Panasonic GX7

$399
4/3

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$648
4/3

In-camera panoramas
Fast startup

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic GX7

Sony RX100 VII

Panasonic GX7

$1298
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
Built-in Bluetooth

$648
4/3

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 VII vs Panasonic GX7

Compared to Olympus E-M10 II

Olympus E-M10

Olympus E-M10 II

$399
4/3

$349
4/3

Fast startup
Shoots 24p video

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-M10 II

Sony RX100 VII

Olympus E-M10 II

$1298
1 inch

Slower slow-motion
Shoot 4K video

$349
4/3

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Sony RX100 VII vs Olympus E-M10 II

Compared to Panasonic ZS100

Olympus E-M10

Panasonic ZS100

$399
4/3

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$498
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic ZS100

Sony RX100 VII

Panasonic ZS100

$1298
1 inch

Slower slow-motion
Tiltable Screen

$498
1 inch

Less expensive
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Sony RX100 VII vs Panasonic ZS100

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Olympus E-M10

Panasonic GX85

$399
4/3

Higher effective ISO
More telephoto lens reach

$598
4/3

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic GX85

Sony RX100 VII

Panasonic GX85

$1298
1 inch

NFC
Built-in Bluetooth

$598
4/3

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Sony RX100 VII vs Panasonic GX85

Compared to Sony RX100 VI

Olympus E-M10

Sony RX100 VI

$399
4/3

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$949
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Sony RX100 VI

Sony RX100 VII

Sony RX100 VI

$1298
1 inch

External Mic Jack

$949
1 inch

Less expensive
Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Sony RX100 VII vs Sony RX100 VI

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