• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 14.2 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 12,800
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
  • Olympus OM-D E-M1
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Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor:   Olympus E-M1 II
E-M1 vs E-M1 II
General
Model Number: DSLR-A550 E-M1
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: SLR Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $1049.99 $1300.00
Street Price: $859.40 $1,099.00
Date Available: 2009-10-08 2013-10-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 32.2 oz (912 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
17.5 oz (497 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.4 x 4.1 x 3.3 in.
(137 x 104 x 84 mm)
5.1 x 3.7 x 2.5 in.
(130 x 94 x 63 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS Live MOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony  
Effective Megapixels: 14.2 16.1
Sensor Format: APS-C 4/3
Sensor size: 369.72mm2 (23.7mm x 15.6mm) 224.9mm2 (17.30mm x 13.00mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.16 microns 3.75 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 2.0x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2, 16:9 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed None
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No Yes
DxO Sensor Score: 66 73
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 21.9 23.0
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 11.8 12.7
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 807 757
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4592 x 3056 (14.0 MP, 3:2),
4592 x 2576 (11.8 MP, 16:9),
3344 x 2224 (7.4 MP, 3:2),
3344 x 1872 (6.3 MP, Other),
2288 x 1520 (3.5 MP, Other),
2288 x 1280 (2.9 MP, Other)
4608 x 3456 (15.9 MP, 4:3),
2560 x 1920 (4.9 MP, 4:3),
1280 x 980 (1.3 MP, Other),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
Image File Format: JPEG, RAW JPEG, MPO, 12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 6.7 9.9
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (30p (24Mbps/​16Mbps))
1280x720 (30p (12Mbps/​8Mbps))
640x480 (30p)
Movie File Format:   MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with stereo sound), AVI (Motion JPEG)
Composite Video Out: No Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: n/a Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a No
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Sony Alpha (Minolta A) Micro Four Thirds
Lens: Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT SAM n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 27 - 83mm  
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 55mm  
Zoom Ratio: 3.00x  
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - 22 (W), f/5.6 - ?? (T)  
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:    
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 55.0mm n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: No
Digital Zoom Values: n/a  
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 9-point TTL phase detection (one cross-type sensor) with eye-start AF; Wide, Spot, Local modes High-speed Dual AF: 37-point On-Chip Phase Detection AF or 81-point Contrast Detection AF with Group Target, Small Target and Super Spot AF modes
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD EVF / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.80x mag., 19mm eyepoint, -2.5 to +1.0 diopter EVF; 2.36M-dot LCD, 1.48x magnification, 100% coverage, 21mm eyepoint, -4 to +2 diopter, eye sensor
Focus Peaking: No Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a 2,360,000 dots
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.53x 0.74x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.80x 1.48x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 921,600 dots 1,037,000 dots
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: Yes Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No
Selfie Screen: No
Max Playback Zoom: 14.0x 14.0x
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 12800 25600
Minimum ISO (native): 200 200
ISO Settings: Auto (200-1600), 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800 AUTO: ISO Low (100) - 25600 (customizable, Default 200-1600) / Manual ISO Low (100) - 25600, 1/3 or 1 EV steps selectable
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom Auto, Lamp, Fluorescent, Daylight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Custom WB, One-touch WB
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 30 sec 1/16000 - 60 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 40-segment Multi Segment, Center-weighted, Spot; (1200 zone evaluative metering in Live View) Digital ESP metering (324-area multi pattern metering), Center weighted average metering, Spot metering, Spot metering with highlight control, Spot metering with shadow control
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, Sunset, Night Portrait/Night View Scene select AE (Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Sport, Night, Night + Portrait, Children, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Documents, Panorama, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Fisheye Conv., Wide Conv., Macro Conv., 3D with 3D lens(H-FT012 by Panasonic) only, still only.), Art Filter, Underwater wide / macro
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2, 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):   Yes
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: Auto, Fill-flash, Rear sync, Wireless, High-Speed sync, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction: On/Off Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual(1/1 (FULL) - 1/64)
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 12.0 m / 39.4 ft. 7.0 m / 23.0 ft.
Flash Range Description: Lens dependent Bundled FL-LM2 flash has GN of 7m/ISO 100
Max Flash Sync: 1/160 1/320
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot shoe Hot Shoe, PC Sync Terminal
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: Full TTL exposure  
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW 12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG
Movie File Format:   MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with stereo sound), AVI (Motion JPEG)
Included Memory:   No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No Yes
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional Wireless or Wired Via Wi-Fi or optional Remote Cable RM-UC1
Connections (extended): DC input, mini-HDMI, Wired Remote Micro HDMI (Type-D), combined AV/USB connector, Accessory Port 2, 3.5mm stereo mini jack
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.41 0.47
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.41 0.47
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 19 Unlimited
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   0.54
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 6.7 9.9
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 15 50
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   9.9
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   50
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   9.9
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   34
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.18 seconds 0.14 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.178 seconds 0.068 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.22 seconds 0.27 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.074 seconds 0.047 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Quick AF Live View shutter lag: 0.188s Full Autofocus lag, Multi-area AF mode = 0.138s
Startup Time: 0.5 seconds 0.8 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.4 seconds 0.4 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 3.5 seconds 4.9 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   350 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 950 shots  
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary NP-FM500H Proprietary BLN-1
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NP-FM500H 1 x Proprietary BLN-1 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No
Software
Included Software: Software/USB Driver CD-ROM Olympus Viewer 3 CD-ROM
OS Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Mac OS X (v. 10.13+)  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Exmore CMOS Sensor, Variable-angle LCD, SteadyShot In-body Sensor-shift Image Stabilization, Live View, Auto HDR, D-Range Optimizer (Auto, Level 1-5), HDMI Output, 7 fps (AF/AE Locked).