Olympus SP-600 UZ vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710: A Hands-On Comparison of Small Sensor Compact Cameras

Choosing the right compact camera often means balancing size, zoom reach, image quality, and user experience. Today, I’m diving deep into two cameras from the compact superzoom category: the Olympus SP-600 UZ and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710. Both pack small 1/2.3” sensors typical of their class but approach the market and feature set differently, despite their similar price range and size segment.

Having personally field-tested both models over several weeks in diverse photography environments - from city streets and landscapes to casual wildlife spotting - I’m sharing firsthand insights and technical evaluations to help you chart which camera fits your shooting style. Whether you're an enthusiast looking for a budget-friendly travel companion or a hobbyist chasing a versatile zoom, this analysis will break down their capabilities, strengths, and compromises.

Let’s begin our journey!

First Impressions: Ergonomics and Physical Presence

When I first handled the two cameras, their distinct design philosophies became clear.

The Olympus SP-600 UZ is chunkier, boasting a robust build with a pronounced grip and larger body footprint. Measuring roughly 110x90x91 mm and weighing 455 grams, it demands presence but rewards with comfort for prolonged shoots - especially critical when working with extended zoom lenses.

In stark contrast, the Sony W710 is svelte and pocket-friendly at 97x55x20 mm and only 114 grams. It’s delightfully lightweight, instantly appealing for casual street shooting or travel situations where every gram matters.

In practical use, the SP-600’s size aligns better with users who prefer solid, steady handling, especially zooming in at 420 mm equivalent. While the Sony’s smaller form makes it easy to slip into pockets or purses, the trade-off is less grip surface and potentially shakier handling at long zoom ends.

If you prefer a camera that feels substantial and “in hand,” the Olympus will suit you. If you want ultra-portability as a priority, the Sony clearly leads.

Control Layout and Interface - Managing Your Shots with Ease

User interface design profoundly shapes the shooting experience. When I compared their top control layouts, the differences again reflected their emphasis.

Olympus opts for a straightforward layout without too many external dials - the SP-600 UZ sticks mostly to essential buttons, complemented by a mode dial and zoom rocker. However, its lack of manual exposure modes means you are limited to fully automatic or preset scene modes. That said, the camera provides manual focus assistance and allows custom white balance, useful for tricky lighting.

Sony’s W710 is even more pared down, favoring simplicity over control. It lacks manual focus but adds a touchscreen interface (a rare feature in budget compacts from early 2010s), improving menu navigation and quick selection of AF points or playback review. The physical buttons are minimalistic, which might feel limiting for some but keeps distractions low.

In sum, if you value physical tactile buttons and more focus control, Olympus feels more robust though still limited in exposure control. For those prioritizing a quick and simple interface, Sony’s touchscreen helps smooth the experience but with fewer creative controls.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the System

Both cameras use similar small 1/2.3" CCD sensors, common in this price bracket, but with slightly different resolutions and specifications.

• Olympus SP-600 UZ has a 12MP sensor with a slightly smaller sensor area of 27.72 mm².
• Sony W710 features a 16MP sensor covering 28.07 mm².

Sensor size is nearly identical, so pixel density and noise performance will closely mirror each other. The CCD technology used here, rather than newer CMOS sensors, typically means slower readout speeds and higher noise at raised ISOs but good color fidelity at low ISO.

In real-world testing, I found the Sony’s 16MP resolution gives a bit more detail in daylight and landscape shots, a welcome advantage when cropping or printing moderately large images.

However, both cameras up the ante at their maximum native ISO settings (1600 for Olympus, 3200 for Sony) - yet noise becomes quickly apparent above ISO 400. Low-light shots require steady hands or flash to avoid softness.

That said, Sony edges ahead with optical image stabilization (OIS), a crucial feature absent on the Olympus, improving handheld sharpness especially at long zoom or in dim conditions.

LCD Screen and Live View: Framing Your Picture

Both cameras share a 2.7-inch fixed LCD screen of 230K resolution, standard fare for their generation, but their screen interaction abilities diverge.

Sony's incorporation of a touchscreen facilitates quick AF area selection and menu scrolling. As someone accustomed to touch controls, I appreciated this ease in tight shooting situations, especially when needing to switch subjects quickly on uneven streets or candid moments.

Olympus misses touchscreen functionality, relying solely on physical buttons, which slows rapid adjustments but feels more deliberate for tweaking settings in deliberate compositions, such as landscapes or macros.

Neither model offers an electronic viewfinder, so composing under bright sunlight can be challenging. Having an eye-level finder really helps with stability and framing - a limitation to note if you shoot a lot outdoors in bright conditions.

Zoom Performance and Macro Capability: Versatility in Focal Range

One of the most intriguing differences lies in their zoom lenses.

The Olympus SP-600 UZ sports an impressive 28-420mm equivalent zoom (15x optical zoom), giving a massive focal range. This allowed me to capture distant wildlife with surprising reach for a compact and access tight portraits or shooting street scenes without changing lenses.

The Sony W710 offers a more modest 28-140mm equivalent zoom (5x optical zoom). While still versatile for everyday needs, it can’t compete with Olympus in tight wildlife or sports scenarios.

Both cameras focus quite close - Olympus impresses with a macro focusing distance of 1cm, which let me fill the frame with small flowers and intricate details beautifully. In comparison, Sony’s macro minimum is 10 cm, more limiting for close-up creativity.

Olympus lacks image stabilization, so at full zoom, camera shake can degrade sharpness unless you compensate with very fast shutter speeds or a tripod. Sony’s optical stabilization significantly helps hand-held telephoto clarity.

Autofocus System: Speed and Accuracy in Action

Autofocus (AF) responsiveness is a crucial factor in capturing decisive moments. Both cameras use contrast detection AF, typical in compact cameras.

Olympus features 143 AF points with multi-area AF and face tracking. However, it lacks eye detection or animal eye AF, limiting portrait precision. AF speed is reasonable in bright conditions but can hunt in dim light or low contrast.

Sony employs fewer AF points (exact count unspecified) but compensates with face detection and touch AF on the screen, which made selecting a subject quick and intuitive in portrait and street work. Its AF is slightly slower than Olympus on average, especially on zoomed telephoto shots.

Neither offers continuous AF tracking for moving subjects, so sports or wildlife photography demands patience and good timing.

Continuous Shooting and Burst Performance for Action Shots

Burst shooting capability is essential for sports, wildlife, or dynamic street photography to lock in peak action moments.

The Olympus SP-600 UZ can shoot at a surprisingly fast 10 frames per second (fps), rivaling some entry-level DSLRs and much faster than typical point-and-shoots. In practice, this enabled capturing bird takeoffs and quick expressions on street portraits with better chance of a sharp frame.

Sony’s W710 is limited to 1 fps continuous shooting, which significantly constrains freezing action or capturing sequences.

Thus, for fast subjects, Olympus delivers a meaningful advantage in this category.

Image Stabilization: Steady Shots Versus Trade-Offs

Here, Sony clearly wins with its optical image stabilization system. During low light and long zoom handheld shots, OIS made a noticeable difference, delivering sharper images and more keepers.

Olympus lacks any form of image stabilization, meaning you are at greater risk of camera shake blur, especially at 420 mm equivalent focal length. Using tripods or higher ISO settings becomes necessary to compensate.

For a camera with such a long zoom lens, the absence of stabilization in Olympus is a significant downside that restricts handheld telephoto usability.

Video Recording Capabilities: Casual Clips Only

Both cameras offer HD video capture but remain modest in specs.

• Olympus SP-600 UZ records 720p HD video at 24fps, using H.264 compression.
• Sony W710 captures 720p HD but at 30fps with MPEG-4 / AVCHD formats.

Neither offers advanced video features like mic inputs, 4K capability, or slow motion. Olympus supports HDMI output for external display, a practical plus for playback on TVs.

I found Sony’s smoother frame rate preferable for casual family videos or travel clips, but neither camera replaces a dedicated video device.

Battery Life and Storage: Keeping Up with Travel Needs

Battery efficiency impacts how long you can shoot on a day out.

Sony W710 records a rated battery life of approximately 240 shots per charge with its NP-BN battery pack. This aligns with average compact camera endurance for casual use.

Olympus doesn’t specify battery life details clearly, but similar cameras in this category typically range around 200-250 shots.

Both cameras rely on common SD/SDHC cards, with Sony even supporting SDXC and proprietary Memory Stick formats, offering some flexibility.

For longer outings, bringing spare batteries or external charging solutions is advisable.

Connectivity Options and Additional Features

Neither model boasts wireless connectivity such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, reflecting the era before such features became widespread.

Olympus includes USB 2.0 and HDMI ports, offering straightforward tethering and external playback capabilities.

Sony limits to USB 2.0 without HDMI support, simplifying connectivity but restricting external monitor use.

Image Samples and Real-World Comparisons

I took both cameras into diverse scenarios to test their output characteristics and practical usability.

Olympus SP 600 UZ front Olympus SP 600 UZ screen back Sony W710 front Sony W710 screen back

• Portraits: Sony’s face detection combined with touchscreen AF helped track subjects effectively, while Olympus’s longer zoom allowed engaging tight portraits from a distance but with slightly softer rendering at max zoom.
• Landscapes: Sony’s higher megapixel count rendered more detailed skies and foliage, but Olympus’s lens brought flexibility to zoom into distant features.
• Wildlife: Olympus’s 420mm zoom and rapid burst shot gave a clear edge for distant birds, though lack of stabilization demanded a tripod or higher ISO.
• Street: Sony’s smaller size and quiet operation lent itself better to candid street scenes.
• Macro: Olympus’s close focusing was impressive, with crisp detail at 1cm distance.
• Night/Astro: Noise was challenging on both above ISO 400 but Sony’s stabilization gave slightly improved handheld night shots.
• Video: Sony’s smoother 30fps video recorded bright, stable clips.
• Travel: Sony wins on portability and battery life, Olympus offers zoom reach but at heavier size.

Professional Use and Workflow Integration

Neither camera targets professional workflows. They lack RAW file support, advanced manual controls, or robust build quality.

Olympus’s absence of RAW means less post-processing flexibility. Sony’s face detection and touchscreen simplify casual shooting but do not replace professional features.

Both are best suited for enthusiasts wanting point-and-shoot convenience rather than professional hybrid use.

Overall Performance Ratings at a Glance

Based on comprehensive tests analyzing image quality, autofocus, ergonomics, and more:

Olympus outperforms in zoom, burst shooting, and ergonomics. Sony leads on sensor resolution, image stabilization, and usability friendliness.

Suitability Across Photography Genres

Let’s zoom in on how each camera performs in popular photography disciplines:

• Portraits: Sony (better face detect, touchscreen) > Olympus (long zoom but no eye AF)
• Landscape: Sony (higher res, more detail) > Olympus (zoom flexibility)
• Wildlife: Olympus (15x zoom, high fps) > Sony (limited zoom)
• Sports: Olympus (10 fps burst) > Sony (1 fps)
• Street: Sony (compact, discreet) > Olympus (bulkier)
• Macro: Olympus (1cm focusing) > Sony (10cm)
• Night/Astro: Slight edge Sony (OIS)
• Video: Sony (smoother 30fps, format) > Olympus (24fps)
• Travel: Sony (light, long battery) > Olympus (zoom bulk)
• Professional use: Neither ideal; limited manual/RAW.

Final Thoughts and Purchasing Recommendations

Deciding between the Olympus SP-600 UZ and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710 hinges on your shooting priorities and style.

• Choose Olympus SP-600 UZ if:

  • You want a long 15x zoom capable of capturing distant subjects
  • You need faster burst shots for action or wildlife
  • You prefer a larger camera with more physical control
  • Manual focus and detailed macro work are important
  • You’re comfortable compensating for lack of image stabilization

• Choose Sony W710 if:

  • Portability, weight, and convenience are key
  • You value optical image stabilization for sharper handheld shots
  • Touchscreen controls improve your shooting workflow
  • You want better low-light usability up to ISO 3200
  • You shoot casual portraits, street, or travel photography

Both cameras deliver respectable image quality for their class, but with notable trade-offs. Olympus impresses with zoom reach and burst shooting potential, while Sony excels in user-friendliness and stabilization.

From my hands-on experience, neither camera fits the bill for professional photographers but each serves well as an affordable, versatile compact for enthusiasts.

I hope this detailed comparison helps you navigate the nuances between these two cameras. Feel free to reach out with your specific shooting scenarios - I’m happy to provide tailored advice from my field testing background.

Happy shooting!

Note: All testing was conducted under controlled and natural lighting conditions, utilizing standardized workflows for fair image quality comparisons.