Olympus E-PM1 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill

Cameras
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill

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4/3 224.9mm²
12.3 megapixels

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-PM1 Review.

APS-C 369.0mm²
14.8 megapixels
28.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sigma DP1 Merrill Review.
See real-world photos taken with the DP1 Merrill.

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Differences

Olympus E-PM1 advantages over Sigma DP1 Merrill

Less expensive
$500 vs $799 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Fast startup
~1.80 vs 2.9 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

330 vs 97 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
34 mm vs 63 mm
Thinner
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Less shutter lag
0.25 vs 0.49 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster JPEG shooting
5.3 fps vs 3.8 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
12800 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sigma DP1 Merrill advantages over Olympus E-PM1

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 5.00 vs 4.29 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
More dots on screen
922k vs 460k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More pixels
14.8 vs 12.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Doesn't require an AA filter
Yes vs No
A unique sensor design provides sharp photos without moiré

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Neither provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Olympus E-PM1

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Buy the Sigma DP1 Merrill

Sigma DP1 Merrill

Review Excerpt

We haven’t reviewed the Olympus E-PM1.
Read our Olympus E-PM1 Initial Test

Exceptionally detailed and uniquely beautiful image quality at low ISOs; Fast, sharp 28mm-equivalent lens; Simple, straightforward controls match camera's simple, straightforward (street photography) goals.
Fixed-focal-length lens; Image quality deteriorates significantly at ISO 800 and above; Overall sluggish performer; Falls short when capturing JPEGs; Terrible VGA-only video quality; Very poor battery life; No built-in flash.
Read our Sigma DP1 Merrill Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-PL3

Olympus E-PM1

Olympus E-PL3

$500
4/3

Less expensive

$700
4/3

Tiltable Screen

Compare Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus E-PL3

Sigma DP1 Merrill

Olympus E-PL3

$849
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$700
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

Compare Sigma DP1 Merrill vs Olympus E-PL3

Compared to Panasonic GF3X

Olympus E-PM1

Panasonic GF3X

$500
4/3

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$750
4/3

Touchscreen
Internal flash

Compare Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF3X

Sigma DP1 Merrill

Panasonic GF3X

$849
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$750
4/3

Touchscreen
Longer stills battery life

Compare Sigma DP1 Merrill vs Panasonic GF3X

Compared to Panasonic GF5

Olympus E-PM1

Panasonic GF5

$500
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Hot shoe

$450
4/3

Touchscreen
Higher effective ISO

Compare Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF5

Sigma DP1 Merrill

Panasonic GF5

$849
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$450
4/3

Touchscreen
Fast startup

Compare Sigma DP1 Merrill vs Panasonic GF5

Compared to Leica X2

Olympus E-PM1

Leica X2

$500
4/3

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1499
APS-C

Larger sensor
Longer stills battery life

Compare Olympus E-PM1 vs Leica X2

Sigma DP1 Merrill

Leica X2

$849
APS-C

Less expensive
More dots on screen

$1499
APS-C

More telephoto lens reach
Longer stills battery life

Compare Sigma DP1 Merrill vs Leica X2

Compared to Leica X-E (Typ 102)

Olympus E-PM1

Leica X-E (Typ 102)

$500
4/3

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1534
APS-C

Larger sensor
Internal flash

Compare Olympus E-PM1 vs Leica X-E (Typ 102)

Sigma DP1 Merrill

Leica X-E (Typ 102)

$849
APS-C

Less expensive
More dots on screen

$1534
APS-C

More telephoto lens reach
Internal flash

Compare Sigma DP1 Merrill vs Leica X-E (Typ 102)

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