Olympus PEN-F vs Sony A6100

Cameras
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony A6100

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4/3 226.2mm²
20.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

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

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A6100 Review.

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Differences

Olympus PEN-F advantages over Sony A6100

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Thinner
37 mm vs 59 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/250 vs 1/160 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony A6100 advantages over Olympus PEN-F

Less expensive
$698 vs $999*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 3.92 vs 3.36 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Longer video battery life
125 vs 80 minutes
Capture more video
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

420 vs 330 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Newer
5 years vs 9 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.62x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
76 vs 43 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
51200 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
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Both provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
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
Slow-motion videos
Both provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
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
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read PEN-F User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A6100 User Reviews

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Buy the Olympus PEN-F

Body Only (Silver)

Body Only (Silver)
Body Only (Black)

All PEN-F Deals

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Buy the Sony A6100

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 16-50mm and 55-210mm Lenses
Kit with 16-50mm Lens

All A6100 Deals

Review Excerpt

Highest resolution Olympus 4/3" camera yet; Excellent image quality for its class; Very good dynamic range; Fast autofocus; Fast burst speeds; Lots of fun creative filter options; Built-in EVF, Wi-Fi.
Expensive; No weather sealing; Mediocre battery life; No 4K video; No mic or headphone jacks.
Read our Olympus PEN-F Review

We haven’t reviewed the Sony A6100.
Read our Sony A6100 Hands-On Preview

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Olympus PEN-F

Panasonic GX85

$999
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
High resolution composite

$598
4/3

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GX85

Sony A6100

Panasonic GX85

$648
APS-C

Larger sensor
NFC

$598
4/3

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A6100 vs Panasonic GX85

Compared to Olympus E-PL8

Olympus PEN-F

Olympus E-PL8

$999
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$599
4/3

Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus E-PL8

Sony A6100

Olympus E-PL8

$648
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$599
4/3

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A6100 vs Olympus E-PL8

Compared to Olympus E-PL9

Olympus PEN-F

Olympus E-PL9

$999
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$700
4/3

Shoot 4K video
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus E-PL9

Sony A6100

Olympus E-PL9

$648
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$700
4/3

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A6100 vs Olympus E-PL9

Compared to Fujifilm X-T100

Olympus PEN-F

Fujifilm X-T100

$999
4/3

Lens selection
Slower slow-motion

$599
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Fujifilm X-T100

Sony A6100

Fujifilm X-T100

$648
APS-C

Slower slow-motion
NFC

$599
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A6100 vs Fujifilm X-T100

Compared to Sony A6400

Olympus PEN-F

Sony A6400

$999
4/3

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$798
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Sony A6400

Sony A6100

Sony A6400

$648
APS-C

Less expensive

$798
APS-C

Higher extended ISO

Compare Sony A6100 vs Sony A6400

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