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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX20V

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Introduced January 2016
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
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX10V
  • Replacement is Sony HX30V
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX20V Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX20V, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the PEN-F (20MP) and the HX20V (18MP) is pretty comparable but the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and HX20V (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The PEN-F was brought out 3 years after the HX20V which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summary of how the PEN-F matches up versus the HX20V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Sony HX20V

 PEN-F HX20V 
RevealedJanuary 2016July 2012More modern by 43 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k922kCrisper screen (+115k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus PEN-F

 HX20V PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Sony HX20V

 PEN-F HX20V 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus PEN-F features external dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") having a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony HX20V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

See the Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX20V in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the PEN-F against the HX20V.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and HX20V is 84 and 90 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to envision the gap in sensor sizes merely by going through a spec sheet. The pic underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the PEN-F and HX20V.

Clearly, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The PEN-F featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus PEN-F will provide extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The younger PEN-F is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus PEN-F
Portrait photography with Sony HX20V
75
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
45
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
has face detect focusing
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography factors
Sony HX20V Street photography factors
84
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography information
Sony HX20V Sports photography information
67
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
not so great battery pack (330 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
has tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography information
Sony HX20V Travel photography information
75
includes focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery pack (330 shots)
69
lighter than competition (254 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography details
Sony HX20V Landscape photography details
76
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
not so great battery pack (330 CIPA)
50
has manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging information
Sony HX20V Vlogging information
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of microphone support
34
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (254g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone support
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Sony HX20V
 Olympus PEN-FSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN-F Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-01-27 2012-07-20
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII 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 20MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427 gr (0.94 lb) 254 gr (0.56 lb)
Dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 320 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $1,000 $397