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Olympus SH-50 vs Sony HX99

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony HX99 Key Specs

Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Launched January 2013
Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced September 2018
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Olympus SH-50 vs Sony HX99 Overview

Following is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus SH-50 vs Sony HX99, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SH-50 (16MP) and the HX99 (18MP) is relatively close but the SH-50 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The SH-50 was manufactured 6 years earlier than the HX99 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short view of how the SH-50 scores vs the HX99 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Sony HX99

 SH-50 HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Olympus SH-50

 HX99 SH-50 
IntroducedSeptember 2018January 2013More modern by 68 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Sony HX99

 SH-50 HX99 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen size3"3.00"Same screen measurements
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SH-50 comes with exterior measurements of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Sony HX99 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-50 vs Sony HX99 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SH-50 versus the HX99.

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-50 and HX99 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to envision the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching specifications. The image underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-50 and HX99.

Plainly, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SH-50 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony HX99 will provide you with greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged SH-50 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography information
Sony HX99 Portrait photography information
44
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
supports face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
53
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Street photography factors
Sony HX99 Street photography factors
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has focus by touch
lighter than competition (269g)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
77
tilting screen
built in image stabilization
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (242 grams)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Sports photography advice
Sony HX99 Sports photography advice
48
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
58
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization
megapixel count decent (18MP)
offers tracking focus
good battery (360 shots)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Travel photography information
Sony HX99 Travel photography information
69
lighter than competition (269g)
has focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
76
good battery (360 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (242g)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX99 Landscape photography factors
49
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
58
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3.00")
built in image stabilization
megapixel count decent (18MP)
saves RAW files
good battery (360 shots)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX99 Vlogging highlights
34
quite wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (269g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have external mic support
76
pretty wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization
offers face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (242g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have mic support
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Olympus SH-50 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Sony HX99
 Olympus SH-50Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SH-50 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-01-08 2018-09-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3.00 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lbs) 242 gr (0.53 lbs)
Physical dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 360 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $300 $469