OM-D E-M10 IVvs A1
VS
Sony
A1 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
View A1
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel & Everyday — OM-D E-M10 IV (2020): Compact Micro Four Thirds body with built-in IBIS — ideal for travellers who want stability without bulk.
Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting — A1 (2021): 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
Who should buy what
OM-D E-M10 IV (2020)
- Beginners and enthusiasts who want a compact, stylish Micro Four Thirds camera
- Travellers who want a small, light system without sacrificing image quality
- Smartphone upgraders who want a proper camera that still fits in a bag
- Anyone who wants built-in selfie capability in a traditional camera body
A1 (2021)
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Quick take: The a1 has the highest resolution at 50mp; the om-d e-m10 iv is the most affordable; only the a1 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | OM-D E-M10 IV (2020) | A1 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £469 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 20.3MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 20.3MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect + contrast detect, 121 points | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 15fps | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE |
| Battery Life | ~360 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 383g body only | 737g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 121.4 × 83.6 × 49.0mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.46× magnification | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, micro HDMI | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | OM-D E-M10 IV | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with OM-D E-M10 IV
Camera family history