Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs.
In this section, we are going to illustrate the YI M1 and Sony A77 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. YI M1 has external dimensions of 114 x 64 x 34 mm (4.49 x 2.52 x 1.34″) and weighs 350 (including batteries). Sony A77 has external dimensions of 143 x 104 x 81 mm (5.63 x 4.09 x 3.19″) and weighs 732 g (1.61 lb / 25.82 oz) (including batteries).
Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the YI M1 and the Sony A77. YI M1 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 29mm narrower, 40mm shorter and 47mm thinner than Sony A77.
Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day.
YI M1 is 732g lighter than the Sony A77 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.
Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since Sony A77 has an APS-C sized sensor and YI M1 has a smaller Four Thirds sensor, YI M1's lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will generally be lighter and smaller than the Sony A77 lenses.
Weather Sealing
Thanks to the weather-sealed body of the A77, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to the M1.
LCD Screen Size and Features
YI M1 and Sony A77's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.
On the other hand, Sony A77 sports a
Fully Articulated screen which you can change the angle and position of the screen almost freely, making it possible to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels, and especially very useful for shooting selfies and video. YI M1's LCD screen is a fixed type which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to A77.