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Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony HX20V

Portability
68
Imaging
59
Features
93
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 574g - 134 x 91 x 67mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M1
  • New Model is Olympus E-M1 III
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
  • Launched July 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX10V
  • Renewed by Sony HX30V
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony HX20V Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony HX20V, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 II (20MP) and the HX20V (18MP) is relatively comparable but the E-M1 II (Four Thirds) and HX20V (1/2.3") come with different sensor size.

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The E-M1 II was manufactured 4 years later than the HX20V and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-M1 II grades versus the HX20V in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 II over the Sony HX20V

 E-M1 II HX20V 
LaunchedSeptember 2016July 2012More recent by 51 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k922kCrisper screen (+115k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus E-M1 II

 HX20V E-M1 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 II and Sony HX20V

 E-M1 II HX20V 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 II has got exterior dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") along with a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) and the Sony HX20V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony HX20V in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 II and the HX20V.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 II and HX20V is 68 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing technical specs. The photograph underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 II and HX20V.

As you can tell, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 II featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 II will produce greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The younger E-M1 II should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Portrait photography factors
Sony HX20V Portrait photography factors
75
has manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
45
focusing manually
MP count good (18 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II as a Street photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Street photography camera
78
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
provides focus via touch
environment sealing
lighter than average (574g)
good ISO range (25,600)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (254 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Sports photography details
Sony HX20V Sports photography details
74
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
high fps (60.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
low battery power (350 CIPA)
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Travel photography camera
72
lighter than average (574 grams)
environment sealing
provides focus via touch
resolution is good (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
low battery power (350 shots)
69
lighter than average in class (254g)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
missing Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Landscape photography information
Sony HX20V Landscape photography information
76
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
low battery power (350 per charge)
50
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1 II
Vlogging with Sony HX20V
79
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
does have external microphone jack
lighter than average (574g)
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (254g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not offer selfie friendly display
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 II and Sony HX20V
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IISony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2016-09-19 2012-07-20
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter rate 60.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.10 m (at ISO 100) 7.10 m
Flash options Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM, 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MOV, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 574g (1.27 lb) 254g (0.56 lb)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 1312 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 320 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLH-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Dual Single
Cost at release $1,700 $397