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Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Olympus FE-4000 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Olympus FE-4000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.6-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Additionally referred to as X-925
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
  • Released July 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX10V
  • New Model is Sony HX30V
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Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony HX20V Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Olympus FE-4000 versus Sony HX20V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the FE-4000 (12MP) and HX20V (18MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The FE-4000 was released 4 years earlier than the HX20V which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the FE-4000 matches up against the HX20V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-4000 over the Sony HX20V

 FE-4000 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus FE-4000

 HX20V FE-4000 
ReleasedJuly 2012July 2009More modern by 36 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-4000 and Sony HX20V

 FE-4000 HX20V 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus FE-4000 has got exterior dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Sony HX20V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus FE-4000 versus Sony HX20V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the FE-4000 against the HX20V.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FE-4000 and HX20V is 95 and 90 respectively.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes purely by looking through technical specs. The image here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-4000 and HX20V.

As you can tell, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Sony HX20V to render extra detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged FE-4000 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX20V Portrait photography factors
21
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
45
manual focus
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Street photography camera
55
lighter than average in class (136 grams)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (254 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Sports photography features
Sony HX20V Sports photography features
17
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX20V Travel photography highlights
62
lighter than average in class (136g)
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
69
lighter than average in class (254g)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus FE-4000
Landscape photography with Sony HX20V
28
pretty wide (26mm)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
50
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX20V as a Vlogging camera
28
pretty wide (26mm)
lighter than average in class (136g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external mic socket
34
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (254g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-4000 and Sony HX20V
 Olympus FE-4000Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus FE-4000 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Also Known as X-925 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-07-22 2012-07-20
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-105mm (4.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/2.6-5.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 136 grams (0.30 lbs) 254 grams (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 320 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $130 $397