Olympus E-400 vs Sony HX1

Following is a thorough assessment of the Olympus E-400 versus Sony HX1, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-400 (10MP) and the HX1 (9MP) is fairly comparable but the E-400 (Four Thirds) and HX1 (1/2.4") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-400 was announced 3 years prior to the HX1 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-400 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-400 matches up against the HX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-400 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-400 Gallery & Sony HX1 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-400 offers exterior measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 435 grams (0.96 lbs) while the Sony HX1 has dimensions of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-400 versus Sony HX1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-400 against the HX1.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-400 and HX1 is 77 and 67 respectively.

More often than not, it's difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizes merely by going through specs. The picture underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-400 and HX1.

All in all, each of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-400 with its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-400 will provide more detail with its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-400 will be behind in sensor technology.