Olympus FE-45 vs Sony RX100: A Deep Dive into Compact Camera Performance for Enthusiasts and Professionals

In the ever-evolving landscape of compact cameras, few comparisons are as enlightening as placing a modest budget-friendly model against a premium enthusiast-focused counterpart. Today, I’ll be putting the Olympus FE-45 (introduced in early 2009) side-by-side with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 (released in late 2012), two compacts that, while sharing a similar idea - “carry less, shoot more” - differ vastly in target audience, technology, and photographic capability.

Drawing on my hands-on experience with hundreds of cameras, I’ll lay bare the practical differences, real-world performance, and value each offers across a wide spectrum of photography styles. Whether you’re a casual snapshot taker, emerging hobbyist, or a professional eyeing a versatile pocketable backup, this comparison will steer you towards the right choice.

Size, Build, and Handling: What Fits Your Grip and Style?

Let’s start from the outside, because size and ergonomics matter - a lot - especially in compact cameras designed to be carried everywhere.

The Olympus FE-45 is a petite, simple compact weighing just 142 grams and measuring 94x62x23mm. It’s lightweight, pocketable, and unobtrusive. Meanwhile, the Sony RX100 is larger and heftier at 240 grams and 102x58x36mm. Though still compact, it feels more substantial and solid in the hand with its chunkier grip profile.

Thanks to its larger body, the RX100 offers a more refined user experience - tactile buttons, a larger and more comfortable grip, and better balance with its longer zoom lens. The FE-45’s diminutive size means it’s easy to throw in any bag (or even a coat pocket), but that comes at the expense of ergonomics and control precision.

If your primary criterion is maximum portability and lightness, the FE-45 wins hands-down. But if you value handling finesse, balanced weight distribution, and a camera that feels reassuringly robust during longer shoots, the RX100 feels like a premium tool.

Top Controls and Usability: You Can’t Control What You Can’t Reach

Ergonomics extend beyond just size - the button layout and top control arrangement dictate how fluid your shooting workflow will be.

Here, the RX100 again flexes its superiority with dedicated dials for shutter speed, aperture control modes, and a more logical shutter release and mode dial. Olympus’ FE-45, aiming at basic point-and-shoot users, lacks these manual controls entirely - no shutter priority, no aperture priority, and zero manual exposure modes. Instead, you get a single shutter button and an incredibly minimalistic interface.

For professionals or enthusiasts who appreciate direct, tactile access to exposure settings without fumbling through menus (especially in fast-moving situations), the RX100 is more empowering. However, if simplicity and fully automatic operation are what you crave, the FE-45’s sparse control scheme removes ambiguity - turn it on and shoot, no distractions.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of Image Capture

Camera specs enthusiasts may already have spotted a colossal difference: sensor size. This is where things start to get exciting because sensor dimensions directly impact image quality, dynamic range, and noise performance.

The FE-45 sports a small 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring roughly 6.08x4.56mm (about 28 mm² surface area) with a modest 10-megapixel resolution. This sensor size is standard for budget compact shooters but pales in image quality terms against larger sensors.

The Sony RX100 raises the bar dramatically with its 1-inch CMOS sensor measuring 13.2x8.8mm (around 116 mm²), boasting 20 megapixels of resolution. That’s roughly four times the sensor surface area of the Olympus, enabling vastly superior light gathering, reduced noise at high ISO, and richer tonal gradations.

From hands-on testing, the RX100’s images show a cleaner rendering with better preservation of highlight and shadow detail - a critical factor for landscape and portrait photographers. The Olympus FE-45, meanwhile, produces competent daylight shots but struggles under dimmer conditions as noise and loss of shadow detail become evident around ISO 400 and above.

In short, if you demand image quality for print, editorial work, or pixel-peeping, the RX100 is in a league of its own. If you’re content with casual social media snaps or snapshots for family albums, the FE-45 is perfectly serviceable.

Display and Interface: How You Frame and Review Your Images Matters

Moving to the camera’s rear, the display is your window to composition, focus confirmation, and image review.

The FE-45 includes a modest 2.5-inch fixed screen with low 230k-dot resolution, limiting clarity when checking fine details or critically confirming focus - a limiting factor for enthusiasts. Conversely, the RX100 boasts a 3-inch WhiteMagic TFT LCD with 1229k dots, meaning far sharper, brighter, and more accurate image previews, even in outdoor daylight.

While neither camera offers touchscreens or electronic viewfinders at these iterations, the RX100’s superior display improves confidence when shooting and reviewing, especially when framing manually or handling tricky exposures.

Image Samples: Real-World Shots Tell the Story Best

Enough specs - let’s talk about actual image results from both cameras across a variety of photographic genres. Below is a gallery showcasing images captured from both cameras, with minimal editing beyond white balance and exposure adjustments mimicking real-world shooting conditions.

Olympus FE 45 front Olympus FE 45 screen back Sony RX100 front Sony RX100 screen back

Portraits

• Sony RX100: Impressively natural skin tones, smooth yet detailed bokeh due in part to its fast f/1.8 aperture at wide angle, plus accurate autofocus with face detection for catching fleeting expressions.
• Olympus FE-45: While competent under good lighting, portraits reveal weaker background separation and skin tone rendition that can look flatter due to limited depth of field and smaller sensor.

Landscapes

• RX100: Delivers excellent dynamic range preserving detail in both shadows and highlights, colors are vibrant yet natural.
• FE-45: Adequate but with reduced sharpness and noticeable noise in shadows, especially in overcast or lower light.

Wildlife & Sports

• FE-45 lacks burst shooting or continuous autofocus for fast subjects, resulting in frequent missed shots.
• RX100 offers 10 fps continuous shooting and decent AF tracking, but with its relatively modest telephoto reach (100mm max), it won’t replace serious super-tele setups.

Autofocus and Performance: Speed and Accuracy in the Heat of the Moment

The FE-45 relies on contrast-detection autofocus focused solely on single shot mode. Autofocus speed is leisurely and hunting in lower light is common. There’s no tracking AF, face detection, or AF points to choose from. For static subjects and casual photography, this is manageable.

The RX100 sports a more advanced contrast-detection autofocus system augmented by face detection, center-weighted AF areas, and continuous AF tracking. With 25 focus points, it covers the composition well and locks focus swiftly - handy for portrait sessions or street photography.

While neither have phase-detection or hybrid AF found in more modern cameras, the RX100’s system is snappier and more reliable for dynamic environments.

Lens and Zoom: How Versatile Are the Fixed Focal Lengths?

The Olympus FE-45’s 36-108mm equivalent zoom (~3x) covers typical general-purpose focal lengths but with a relatively slow variable aperture of f/3.1 to f/5.9. This restricts shallow depth-of-field effects and low light performance at the telephoto end.

Sony’s RX100 features a 28-100mm equivalent zoom (~3.6x) starting at a bright f/1.8 aperture at wide angle, closing to f/4.9 telephoto. This lens combination offers greater versatility for portraits, low light, and shallow depth effects.

The RX100’s lens is noticeably sharper edge-to-edge, contributing enormously to the superior image quality results.

Battery Life and Storage: Keeping You Shooting Longer

Battery longevity is often a deal maker or breaker for travel and event photographers.

The FE-45’s battery life specifics aren’t officially documented, but given its simple sensor and lack of power-draining features, it will last a decent day of casual shooting. It uses standard AA batteries or a proprietary lithium-ion (depending on region/iteration), which can be convenient for replacement on the go.

The RX100 offers roughly 330 shots per charge on its NP-BX1 battery - a decent but not exceptional figure. This is typical for large sensor compacts balancing power with performance.

On the storage front, the FE-45 accepts xD-Picture Card, microSD, and internal memory - highly uncommon and increasingly obsolete media types. RX100 uses ubiquitous SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and Sony Memory Stick variants, offering much more compatibility and speed.

Connectivity and Features: Modern Conveniences or Missing Links?

Connectivity is an arena where the RX100 marginally outpaces the FE-45.

• FE-45: No wireless capabilities, no GPS, no HDMI output, and USB at 2.0 speeds only for tethered transfers.
• RX100: Supports NFC for quick pairing with smartphones, Eye-Fi wireless card compatibility for photo transfer, USB 2.0, and full-sized HDMI output.

Though no built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi by today’s standards, the RX100’s connectivity options align with early 2010s enthusiast needs.

Durability and Build Quality: Cameras That Withstand the Test of Travel

Neither camera offers weather sealing or rugged protection, but the RX100’s metal body construction provides better durability and resistance to wear and tear. The Olympus, made primarily of plastic, risks early wear under heavy use.

For travel photographers, robustness can be a priority - the RX100 fares better here, though serious all-weather protection requires enthusiast or professional-grade gear.

Price-to-Performance Ratio: What Are You Really Paying For?

At launch, the FE-45 was priced around $130, positioning it firmly in the entry-level compact segment. The RX100 launched at roughly $450, clearly aimed at enthusiast photographers seeking large sensor quality in a pocketable package.

Is the Sony’s nearly fourfold price difference justified? From a performance and versatility perspective, absolutely yes. The RX100’s sensor size, manual controls, image quality, and autofocus capabilities justify the cost for serious users.

For casual users or those with the tightest budgets, the FE-45 still provides a serviceable point-and-shoot option.

How These Cameras Score in Our Tests: Overall and By Genre

Synthesizing our analysis, here’s a comprehensive scorecard reflecting each camera’s strengths and weaknesses based on lab measurements and real-world use across photographic disciplines:

Specialized Genre Analysis: What Each Camera Excels At (And Where They Falter)

Breaking down performance across specific genres pinpoints the ideal users for each model:

Portrait Photography

• FE-45: Lacks face detection, limited bokeh capability ✔️ Casual snaps only
• RX100: Fast lens, face detection, pleasing background blur ✔️ Excellent portraits for a compact

Landscape Photography

• FE-45 struggles with dynamic range and fine detail preservation
• RX100 delivers rich tones and sharpness ✔️ Recommended for enthusiasts

Wildlife & Sports

• FE-45’s slow AF and no burst mode make it unsuitable
• RX100’s 10fps and continuous autofocus help, but reach is limited ✔️ Suitable only for moderate action

Street Photography

• FE-45 is ultra-light and discreet, but slow AF and poor low light
• RX100 bulkier but better focusing and low light performance ✔️ Balanced choice

Macro

• Both cameras offer 5 cm focusing distance; RX100’s sharper lens aids detail capture

Night & Astrophotography

• FE-45 suffers with high noise and weak low-light ISO
• RX100 shows cleaner results and manual exposure modes ✔️ Ideal for night photographers

Video

• FE-45 max 640x480 resolution with MJPEG codec - barely past beginner level
• RX100 shoots full HD 1080p at 60fps with AVCHD and MPEG-4 ✔️ Stronger video tool

Travel

• FE-45 appeals for extreme portability and simplicity
• RX100 attracts travelers who want flexibility and quality in one package

Professional Use

• With RAW capture, manual control, and superior image quality, RX100 can serve as a capable backup or discreet everyday camera.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

Buy the Olympus FE-45 if...

• You want a tiny, cheap, and simple pocket camera for snapshots.
• You are on a tight budget and don’t demand top image quality.
• Your shooting is casual and indoors, daylight, or vacation snaps.

Opt for the Sony RX100 if…

• You value image quality, dynamic range, and manual control in a compact.
• You want the freedom to shoot portraits, landscapes, and low-light environments well.
• You appreciate fast autofocus and HD video support.
• You’re willing to invest in a camera that delivers enthusiast-level performance.

Closing Thoughts: Compact Cameras in Context

The Olympus FE-45 and Sony RX100 inhabit entirely different compact camera worlds. The FE-45 is the quintessential affordable point-and-shoot: easy, accessible, but limited in scope. The RX100, by contrast, heralded a new class of large sensor compacts that remain relevant years later because of their outstanding image quality and control access in a small footprint.

In my experience, the RX100’s sensor and lens combination unlocks creative opportunities that entry-level compacts can only dream of. However, for beginners or minimalists who prize extreme portability and simplicity over image fidelity, the FE-45 remains a respectable, if basic, companion.

Choosing between them ultimately comes down to photographic ambition and budget. Either way, I hope this detailed, hands-on comparison helps you find the camera that fits your vision - and your pocket.

Happy shooting!