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Olympus E-PL6 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL6 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Announced August 2014
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL7
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Replacement is Sony HX30V
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Below is a extended assessment of the Olympus E-PL6 versus Sony HX20V, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the HX20V (18MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and HX20V (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL6 was introduced 2 years later than the HX20V and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-PL6 grades against the HX20V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Sony HX20V

 E-PL6 HX20V 
LaunchedAugust 2014July 2012More recent by 25 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus E-PL6

 HX20V E-PL6 
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Sony HX20V

 E-PL6 HX20V 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size

Olympus E-PL6 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL6 offers exterior dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Sony HX20V has proportions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL6 versus Sony HX20V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL6 versus the HX20V.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL6 and HX20V is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual below will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL6 and HX20V.

Clearly, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL6 having a larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX20V will offer you more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The newer E-PL6 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL6
Portrait photography with Sony HX20V
71
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
45
you can focus manually
good resolution (18 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Street photography details
Sony HX20V Street photography details
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Travel photography camera
85
features focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition (254 grams)
good resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL6
Landscape photography with Sony HX20V
80
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
50
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Vlogging information
Sony HX20V Vlogging information
79
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (254g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Sony HX20V
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL6 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2014-08-01 2012-07-20
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 325g (0.72 lbs) 254g (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 320 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $300 $397