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Olympus E-510 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-510 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 490g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Announced November 2007
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-510
  • Older Model is Olympus E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-520
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Older Model is Sony HX10V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX30V
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Olympus E-510 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Here is a in depth analysis of the Olympus E-510 versus Sony HX20V, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and HX20V (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-510 was manufactured 5 years before the HX20V and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-510 matches up vs the HX20V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Sony HX20V

 E-510 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus E-510

 HX20V E-510 
AnnouncedJuly 2012November 2007Fresher by 56 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Sony HX20V

 E-510 HX20V 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-510 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-510 provides outside dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) while the Sony HX20V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-510 versus Sony HX20V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-510 versus the HX20V.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and HX20V is 69 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizing just by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-510 and HX20V.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-510 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Sony HX20V will provide extra detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The older E-510 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-510
Portrait photography with Sony HX20V
56
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (10 megapixels)
45
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Street photography camera
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (490g)
no moving screen
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (254 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 Sports photography factors
Sony HX20V Sports photography factors
52
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10MP)
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
comes with tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than others in class (490g)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competitors in class (254 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
no Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Landscape photography camera
55
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.5")
MP count low (10 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
50
focusing manually
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging features
Sony HX20V Vlogging features
9
can't record video
34
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (254g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no microphone jack
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Olympus E-510 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Sony HX20V
 Olympus E-510Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-510 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Also Known as EVOLT E-510 -
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2007-11-23 2012-07-20
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490 gr (1.08 lb) 254 gr (0.56 lb)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 442 not tested
Other
Battery life - 320 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $550 $397