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Olympus E-5 vs Sony H20

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
29
Overall
31

Olympus E-5 vs Sony H20 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-3
Sony H20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
  • 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
  • Revealed May 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-5 vs Sony H20 Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Olympus E-5 vs Sony H20, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the H20 (10MP) is fairly well matched but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and H20 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-5 was introduced 21 months after the H20 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony H20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-5 scores vs the H20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Sony H20

 E-5 H20 
RevealedFebruary 2011May 2009More modern by 21 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Olympus E-5

 H20 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Sony H20

 E-5 H20 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-5 vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-5 comes with exterior measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Sony H20 has sizing of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-5 vs Sony H20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-5 versus the H20.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony H20 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and H20 is 58 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony H20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes simply by looking at technical specs. The picture underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-5 and H20.

As you have seen, both cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-5 with its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-5 will give greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The fresher E-5 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony H20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Sony H20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography advice
Sony H20 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
27
has manual focus
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography highlights
Sony H20 Street photography highlights
71
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than average in class (250g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-5
Sports photography with Sony H20
59
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography information
Sony H20 Travel photography information
56
environment proofing
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
51
built-in flash
great reach (380mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (250 grams)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography factors
Sony H20 Landscape photography factors
65
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
two card slots
resolution not great (12MP)
missing Timelapse recording
36
has manual focus
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging highlights
Sony H20 Vlogging highlights
64
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
includes microphone socket
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (250 grams)
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony H20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Sony H20
 Olympus E-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-02-03 2009-05-14
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 38-380mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-4.4
Macro focusing range - 2cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lbs) 250 gr (0.55 lbs)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLM-5 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Two One
Retail price $1,700 $249