Help me choose, Olympus or Sony.

[Dinoboy]

Hi there,

Looking for a compact that will provide great photos in the main, not too fussed about video capability etc.

What would you choose between these 2?

https://www.e-infin.com/uk/item/4118/sony_alpha_a6...

Or

https://explore.omsystem.com/gb/en/e-p7?s_kwcid=AL...

[Phil.]

I don’t have any experience of these but have found this useful in the past:

https://cameradecision.com/compare/Olympus-PEN-E-P...

[Dinoboy]

Thanks for that, useful site!

[Bill]

I love the look of the Olympus, but the wky website puts me right off!

[craig1912]

I’d probably go for the Sony. Bigger sensor and weather sealing. Much bigger choice of lenses if that is important to you.
I have owned an earlier Olympus pen and did like it though.

I guess you are aware that e infinity are a grey market site.

Edited by craig1912 on Sunday 7th July 10:05

[Dinoboy]

Thanks for the input guys, seems there's no great drawback with either of them.
As said the Sony has a larger sensor and greater lens choice. The Olympus does look a bit of a bargain but not too much between them at those prices.

[Ed.Neumann]

I would also look at some of the Fujifim cameras. I have an A7c Sony and it great, but in all honesty I never use it as I always use my Fuji XE2s.

The Fuji shoots beautiful jpegs, and it is far more mechanical, the aperture, shutter speed, and exposure compensation dial just makes it so easy and nice to use, and such a small form factor.

WEX have loads almost mint for £400. Seen them go for £250 on facebook marketplace. Although the X100V and X100VI seems to have caused a bit if a resurgence and bumped the prices up.


I have been using this lens recently...

https://www.wexphotovideo.com/ttartisan-af27mm-f2-...


Makes it a very compact set up and a really fun camera to carry around. Can pick it up new on eBay for £130ish.

It looses out with video, and the very latest autofocus, but that xtrans II sensor is something a bit special, and combined with the Fuji film simulations it is a great set up.


The Sony I really just use for video and for really, really low light work.

I know it is not what you asked, but I think it should be considered.

Have a look on youtube for some Fuji material.


I also had a Lecia Q, but the Fuji made that redundant. Unless you are pixel peeping and want to do loads of raw editing the Fuji I liked more.


I think the thing with the Fuji was being able to shoot everything in jpeg and it just look good.
I have mine set up for auto iso between 400-3200, and I sort of use the exposure dial to adjust the creamyness/contrast of the image and....that's it. Of course I did adjust the aperture too, but you sort of do it without having to think about anything.

I have the buttons set up for everything I would ever need to adjust one click away and it just feels right. But I don't really need to, that is shortcuts to things like film simulation modes. Changing to one of the preset auto iso modes, so if shooting indoors it might be 800-3200, or if shooting in the day 100-800 etc., that's about it.
Everything else you do on the fly using nice manual controls.

I was getting tired with 'developing' images on the computer, converting from raw, loads of hard drive space, the Fuji has made taking photos fun again.



Anyway, maybe have a look at Fujifim content on Youtube, there is hours on there.

Edited by Ed.Neumann on Wednesday 10th July 00:00

[BrokenSkunk]

craig1912 said:

I’d probably go for the Sony. Bigger sensor and weather sealing. Much bigger choice of lenses if that is important to you.
I have owned an earlier Olympus pen and did like it though.

I guess you are aware that e infinity are a grey market site.

Edited by craig1912 on Sunday 7th July 10:05

Yes, but with a bigger sensor, the lenses are also bigger, heavier and more expensive.
It's all a compromise. Personally I don't see the attraction of APS-C sized lenses on a slim body like these two cameras. I'd rather go with the smaller cheaper lenses on the Oly.

Since the Olympus is a micro 4/3 I don't think the choice of lenses is a consideration. The camera will work with micro 4/3 lenses from Panasonic & Leica as well as those from Olympus.

Not only this, but being mirrorless and having a very short distance from the back of the lens to the sensor, M4/3 cameras can be cheaply adapted to work with many manual lenses. Grab a cheap <£20 adaptor and you can attach old but excellent fast primes from the days of manual SLRs. Not sure whether similar adapters are available for APS-C mount bodies. I'm sure someone will clarify.

[Crudeoink]

I moved to a Sony 6400 last year and it's been great. I've been able to pick up some really decent lenses for a ridiculously good price from the likes of eBay as they're so numerous. For example I got a Sigma 30mm f1.4 and Sigma 16mm f1.4 for £140 as a combo.

[craig1912]

Not a massive difference between the size of M4/3 and APS-C lenses.. I’ve had both and as stated above plenty of good third party lenses.
Also I think I’m right in saying that you can get adapters for any mirror less camera.
I have a Fujifilm and use some Canon FD lenses as I did on my previous Pen and a Sony A7iii.

[gotoPzero]

I was looking at similar cameras.

In the end I went for the RX100 mk7.

Yes its point and shoot but when you look at the specs other than the smaller sensor its a heck of a package in something that will genuinely fit in a jacket pocket..

[Phil.]

gotoPzero said:

I was looking at similar cameras.

In the end I went for the RX100 mk7.

Yes its point and shoot but when you look at the specs other than the smaller sensor its a heck of a package in something that will genuinely fit in a jacket pocket..

Me too