Olympus SP-565UZ vs Sony RX100 IV: A Hands-On Combat of Compact Camera Titans

When it comes to compact cameras, the choices have always been polarized between affordable superzooms and pocket-friendly large sensor compacts. Today, I’m putting two very distinct cameras head-to-head: the Olympus SP-565UZ, a 2009-era superzoom wonder, and the Sony RX100 IV, a 2015 large sensor compact powerhouse.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras (yes, I’ve definitely been through clubs for thumbs and carpal tunnel episodes), I’m here to break down how these two stack up across the photography board - portrait, wildlife, landscape, and beyond. By the end, you’ll know exactly which fits your style, budget, and photographic ambition.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Ergonomics

Right off the bat, these cameras look and feel worlds apart.

Olympus SP-565UZ is the chunky compact type, larger than many premium point-and-shoots, thanks to its massive 20x zoom lens (26-520mm equivalent). It weighs in at 413g and measures a substantial 116×84×81 mm, practically begging for a dedicated carrying pouch. Its fixed 2.5-inch screen is a little small and fixed - no tilts or touch functionality here.

In contrast, the Sony RX100 IV is a sleek, pocketable marvel. Its 102×58×41 mm dimensions and light 298g weight mean it’s built for those who want DSLR-level image quality in a jacket pocket. The 3-inch tilting LCD with 1229k-dot resolution lets you compose with flair, and its pop-up electronic viewfinder (EVF) adds professional charm. Buttons and dials feel tight and precise, suited to photographers wanting full manual control without lugging an SLR.

Ergonomically, the Olympus can feel a bit thick and unwieldy due to its zoom lens, but holding it firmly is no issue. The Sony’s smaller body suits street and travel photography where discretion and speed count.

Handling and Controls: Clubs for Thumbs or Natural Grip?

Olympus’s control layout is straightforward: dedicated zoom and mode rings plus a classic dial and quick-access buttons. It has all the manual exposure modes you'd expect, handy for those learning DSLR basics. However, the buttons aren’t backlit, which can be frustrating in dim settings, and the lack of touchscreen means more club-like button pressing.

The RX100 IV offers a combo of a mode dial and customizable buttons. The pop-up EVF’s placement allows your eye to rest naturally on the camera, beneficial for longer shoots. Though its menu system is a bit labyrinthine, the buttons give fast access to ISO, focus mode, and exposure compensation - a mature setup perfect for enthusiasts.

The Sony’s comfortable and intuitive control layout lets you dial in settings rapidly - a big plus for street and sports shooters who rarely want to dig through menus.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heartbeat of the Machine

Here’s where the story really splits: Olympus sports a small 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, typical for superzooms of the era, offering 10MP resolution. The Sony rocks a much larger 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with 20MP resolution, benefiting from back-side illumination technology that improves light sensitivity.

How do these specs translate into real-world image quality?

• Dynamic range: Sony leads with a measured 12.6 stops (DxOmark data), enabling better highlight and shadow details, especially in challenging light. Olympus lags around 10 stops, often losing midtones in high-contrast scenes.

• Color depth: The Sony’s 22.9-bit depth produces richer, more nuanced colors - skin tones look more lifelike and landscapes burst with vibrancy. Olympus manages about 18.7 bits, sufficient but not spectacular.

• Noise and Low-light performance: The Sony RX100 IV shines here with a low-light ISO of 562 (DxO), handling ISO 3200 and beyond with usable results. Olympus maxes out at ISO 6400, but image noise becomes rapidly intrusive beyond ISO 400 or 800.

In practical terms, if you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, or events where image quality counts, the RX100 IV's larger sensor and superior processing will reward you handsomely. The Olympus SP-565UZ’s small sensor can produce decent images under good light but struggles when the sun sets or you venture indoors.

Display and Viewfinder: Your Window to the World

The Olympus’ 2.5-inch LCD with 230k dots is adequate but decidedly outdated. Feelings of frustratingly small previews and less vibrant playback were common in my testing, especially outdoors.

Sony’s RX100 IV has a crisp 3-inch 1229k-dot tilting screen that’s great for composing at awkward angles or selfies (yep, it’s selfie-friendly!). The electronic viewfinder with 2359k-dot resolution and 100% coverage gives a bright, sharp alternative.

For serious photographers, having a bright, articulating screen and EVF is hugely beneficial for composing in all situations - especially outdoors on bright days or in tight spaces where holding the camera at eye level stabilizes shots.

Autofocus Systems and Speed: Who’s Quicker on the Draw?

Olympus uses contrast-detection autofocus with 143 selectable focus points - ambitious for its class but slow and prone to hunting in low light or fast action. Furthermore, the SP-565UZ only supports single autofocus; no continuous (tracking) AF means it can struggle with moving subjects. Face detection isn't supported either, which limits portrait ease.

The Sony RX100 IV incorporates hybrid contrast and phase-detection AF (though phase detection coverage isn’t massive) with 25 focus points and advanced features like continuous AF and face detection. It also includes AF tracking, which holds focus on moving subjects - significant for sports or wildlife.

More impressively, the RX100 IV supports burst shooting at 16 fps versus Olympus’s disappointing 1 fps.

In the field, I found the Sony to be sharp and snappy, rarely missing a beat tracking dogs or kids in motion, while the Olympus dawdled and hesitated, missing many fleeting moments.

Lens and Zoom: Reach vs. Speed and Sharpness

For those fixated on zoom power, the Olympus SP-565UZ's phenomenal 20x zoom (26-520mm equivalent) is a godsend. That super-telephoto reach can pull distant wildlife or faraway architecture into frame without changing lenses. It also offers a bright-ish aperture range of f/2.8 to f/4.5 at the wide to tele ends.

But here’s the catch: fixed lenses with big zoom ranges invariably suffer optical compromises. Lens sharpness softens near the edges, especially at maximum zoom, and chromatic aberrations can crop up at longer focal lengths.

Sony’s RX100 IV, with its 24-70mm equivalent lens at f/1.8-2.8, has a shorter zoom reach but offers significantly wider apertures, allowing more creative control over depth of field and better performance in dim conditions.

The lens quality on the RX100 IV is top-notch, supporting extremely sharp results across the zoom range with minimal distortion.

So, if ultimate zoom reach matters, Olympus wins hands down. But if image sharpness and speedy apertures to blur backgrounds or shoot indoors are your priorities, the Sony takes the crown.

Image Stabilization and Macro: Steady Shots, Close Encounters

Both cameras feature optical image stabilization, essential given Olympus’s superzoom lens and Sony’s bright but short zoom.

Olympus claims macro focus as close as 1 cm, which is extraordinary on paper and excellent for extreme close-ups - think insect details or textured fabric. Sony’s closest focus sits at about 5 cm, still reasonable for handheld macro shots.

However, in practice, Olympus’s more limited image quality and slower AF slightly diminish macro potential. The RX100 IV offers greater buffer in post-processing due to its higher resolution and smoother backgrounds from wider apertures.

Stabilization on both performs well for handheld shots, but the Sony’s system performs admirably even in video mode (more on that next).

Video Recording: Moving Pictures and Sound

If video matters to you, you’ll find Olympus trailing badly here. The SP-565UZ caps at standard definition 640x480 at 30 fps - roughly VHS era quality. No HD, no 4K, no microphone input.

Sony’s RX100 IV upstages with 4K UHD recording at 30p, full HD options at high frame rates (60p, 120p slow motion), and support for the efficient XAVC S codec. While no mic or headphone jack exists, the built-in stereo mic is decent for casual shooting.

Both cameras lack external mic ports, so semi-pro videographers might still want something more advanced, but for casual video, the RX100 IV is a future-proof choice.

Olympus SP 565UZ front Olympus SP 565UZ screen back Sony RX100 IV front Sony RX100 IV screen back

Photographic Versatility: Portraits, Landscapes, Wildlife, and Beyond

Portrait Photography

• Olympus: Limited by small sensor and no face detection, skin tones can appear flat, and bokeh is minimal due to smaller sensor and narrower aperture.
• Sony: Larger sensor + f/1.8 lens lets you isolate subjects with creamy bokeh. Face detection autofocus aids in sharp eyes, critical for portraits.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus: Lower resolution and dynamic range limit print sizes and tonal gradations.
• Sony: Higher megapixels and superior dynamic range reveal more detail in shadows and highlights - perfect for dramatic skies and textured scenes.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• Olympus: Insufficient AF speed, single-shot AF, and slow burst rates make it ill-suited.
• Sony: Fast continuous autofocus, 16 fps burst, and decent telephoto lens cover moderate wildlife and sports action.

Street Photography

• Olympus: Bulky size and slow AF hamper candid shooting.
• Sony: Compact build, subtle design, quick AF, and EVF perfect for spontaneous street photography.

Macro Photography

• Both cameras allow close focusing; Olympus claims exceptional minimum focus distances, but image quality and focusing speed favor the Sony.

Night and Astro Photography

• The RX100 IV’s superior high-ISO capabilities and longer shutter speeds (up to 30s) facilitate star trails and night sky shots. The Olympus max shutter is 1/2000s but lower ISO usability restricts low-light handholding.

Travel Photography

• Olympus’s longer reach is great for safaris or distant landmarks; however, its size and weight are downsides.
• Sony is a great travel companion - small, versatile, and brilliant image quality.

Professional Work

• Both have RAW support, but the Sony’s files provide more latitude in post-production.
• Connectivity-wise, Sony has built-in Wi-Fi and NFC; Olympus is absent here.
• For workflow integration and reliability, Sony’s newer processor and firmware offer speed and stability advantages.

Technical Performance Ratings Summary

Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

Buy the Olympus SP-565UZ if:

• You’re a cheapskate on a budget who craves a versatile superzoom.
• Telephoto reach (520mm!) is your top priority - for wildlife at a distance or outdoor events.
• You mainly shoot in bright daylight and prioritize zoom over image quality.
• Weight isn’t a big concern; you can tolerate a chunky body.
• Video is a minor concern or you use other devices for that.

Choose the Sony RX100 IV if:

• You want outstanding image quality in a small package.
• You shoot portraits, landscapes, street, travel, or quick action and need sharp, fast autofocus.
• Video quality (4K) is important, alongside excellent stills.
• You prefer a sleek design with a good EVF and flexible tilting screen.
• You appreciate wireless connectivity for fast sharing or remote control.
• You’re willing to invest nearly twice the Olympus price for future-forward tech.

Real-World Hands-On Takeaways

As someone who has lugged both cameras into diverse shoots, I’ll leave you with straight talk:

• The Olympus SP-565UZ is a relic from the era when superzoom compacts ruled convenience. It’s great fun for casual users and explorers who want all-in-one reach without lens swaps. But expect small sensor limitations and sluggish focusing - no cut corners here.

• The Sony RX100 IV plays in a different league. It is the consummate "carry everywhere" compact that can deliver DSLR-like images on demand. Even years after release, it competes fiercely thanks to the 1-inch sensor and modern tech.

Neither camera is waterproof or weather-sealed - invest wisely if your adventures are rugged. Personal battery life experiences leaned towards the Sony because its Lithium-Ion packs outperform AA reliance in the Olympus.

Final Words: Where Does Your Passion Lie?

If your heart pines for zoom reach and a budget-friendly setup and light video means little, the Olympus SP-565UZ remains a viable choice. But if you demand image quality, speed, and innovative features in a pocket camera, the Sony RX100 IV is the clear winner - a tool that excites and delivers time after time.

Whichever way you swing, knowing their strengths and tradeoffs helps you shoot smarter. Remember, cameras are an extension of your vision, so pick the one that lets your creativity flow best.

Happy shooting!

If you want a quick recap or personalized advice on which camera matches your shooting habits, just ask. I’m here for the nitty-gritty - and the fun - of photography gear.