Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Sony WX350: A Hands-On Superzoom Showdown for Enthusiasts and Pros

When you’re searching for a compact superzoom that can cover everything from landscapes to wildlife, the Olympus SP-600 UZ and Sony WX350 often pop up in discussions - even years after their release. I’ve spent considerable time with both cameras, putting them through their paces across multiple photography disciplines, and I want to give you a detailed, honest breakdown of how they stack up in the real world.

Both are small-sensor superzooms, aimed primarily at enthusiasts or beginners who want a robust zoom range without the hassle of swapping lenses. But they come from very different eras - the SP-600 UZ launched in 2010, while the WX350 showed up in 2014 with some clear advancements. Which one deserves a spot in your camera bag? Read on for the full scoop.

Size, Build, and Ergonomics: Which Fits Your Shooting Style?

Right off the bat, compactness can make or break your willingness to carry a camera everywhere. Let’s look at how these two compare physically.

The Olympus SP-600 UZ is a fairly chunky compact at 110 x 90 x 91 mm, tipping the scales at 455 grams. Its larger body gives it a more substantial grip, which some photographers prefer for stability, especially when shooting at long telephoto. However, its boxy shape and heft make it less pocketable.

Meanwhile, the Sony WX350 is markedly smaller and lighter: 96 x 55 x 26 mm and only 164 grams. It easily slips into most pockets or small bags without becoming a burden. This slim profile channels the kind of discreetness street photographers and travelers cherish.

Both cameras use fixed lenses and have similar button layouts - but notice the SP-600 UZ’s more intuitive dials and clubs-for-thumbs grip design, providing quicker access to zoom and shutter controls. The WX350’s streamlined top layout sacrifices some tactile feedback for compactness.

My take: If you crave solid ergonomic control and don’t mind the weight, the Olympus feels robust enough for long shooting sessions. But if ultra-portability and travel-friendliness are your top priorities, the Sony is unbeatable here.

Sensor and Image Quality: Punching Above Their Weight?

Both cameras use the same 1/2.3-inch sensor size - a compact sensor by current standards, sure, but a sweet spot for zoom compacts in balancing size and versatility.

The Olympus packs a 12MP CCD sensor, typical of cameras from around 2010, paired with the TruePic III processor. It captures images at 3968 x 2976 pixels, which is enough for moderate enlargements and web use.

Sony’s WX350 comes with a more modern 18MP BSI-CMOS sensor - a clear advancement over older CCDs. The larger pixel count (4896 x 3672 resolution) means finer detail and better cropping latitude. The BSI (Backside-Illuminated) design improves low-light sensitivity, too.

In side-by-side shooting tests, the Olympus produces decent sharp images in good light, but noise becomes noticeable by ISO 400, and the dynamic range feels limited - blown highlights and blocked shadows creep in quickly. The WX350 delivers crisper details at base ISO, and its high ISO capabilities (up to ISO 12800) mean cleaner shots in dimmer environments. Although noise still climbs noticeably past ISO 800, the BSI sensor maintains better tonal gradation.

Still, don’t expect full-frame caliber image quality from either when pixel peeping intensely - the small sensors impose physical limits.

Handling and Interface: How Do They Feel in Action?

The Olympus’s 2.7-inch fixed 230k-dot LCD screen is serviceable but fudges image previews with a lower resolution and muted colors. It lacks touch capability, so accessing menus feels a bit slow.

The Sony WX350 sports a bigger 3-inch 460k-dot screen, improving live view clarity and framing accuracy. Unfortunately, like the Olympus, it lacks touchscreen input, but the image quality on the screen better represents the final shot’s color and detail.

Neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder - a disappointment if you’re used to shooting in bright sunny conditions where LCD visibility suffers.

In addition, neither model features manual exposure modes (no shutter or aperture priority, only automatic with some exposure compensation). This limitation pushes these cameras toward enthusiast beginners or casual shooters rather than professionals seeking creative control.

Autofocus and Zoom Performance: Hunting Wildlife to Street Hustle

Autofocus on compact superzooms can vary widely, affecting your success at capturing fleeting moments.

Olympus’s SP-600 UZ utilizes contrast-detection AF with 143 focus points, which sounds impressive on paper. However, in practice, AF speed is slow, and continuous tracking struggles, especially with moving subjects. Manual focus is available but tricky on the tiny fixed lens.

Sony’s WX350 foregoes manual focus entirely - no rings or direct control - relying fully on autofocus. The AF system mixes contrast detection with predictive tracking and face detection, delivering snappier, more reliable focus in challenging conditions like dim light or fast action. The WX350’s AF “live view” behaves unlike Olympus’s, turning off the screen between shots to speed capture.

On telephoto reach, Olympus’s 15x 28-420mm (35mm equivalent) covers broad ground, good for distant wildlife or sports. Sony ups the ante with a 20x 25-500mm equivalent zoom, reaching further at the expense of a slightly narrower aperture (F3.5-6.5 vs F3.5-5.4). For wildlife or sports shooters seeking maximum reach in a small package, the WX350 delivers more options.

Continuous shooting rates are matched at 10fps for both, but given Olympus’s slower AF and buffering, the Sony achieves more reliable burst sequences.

Exploring Key Photography Genres: What Works Best Where?

To get a full picture, let’s consider how these cameras handle different photography types, from portraits to astrophotography.

Portrait Photography: Rendering Skin Tones and Bokeh

Both cameras’ fixed lenses have relatively narrow apertures (around f/3.5 at wide end), limiting background blur potential. Neither offers eye detection AF, and only the Sony WX350 has face detection autofocus, improving focus reliability on portraits.

Color rendition on the Olympus tends towards cooler tones with a slight green cast, requiring post-processing for true-to-life skin tones. The Sony delivers warmer, more natural hues, popping nicely on skin tones straight out of the camera.

Bokeh quality is modest on both due to sensor size and lens aperture limitations, but Sony’s longer zoom range helps isolate subjects when zoomed in.

Landscape Photography: Resolution and Dynamic Range

Landscape lovers will appreciate Sony’s extra 6MP resolution and better dynamic range retention. Olympus’s dynamic range is tight, so you’ll often see clipped skies or muddy shadows.

Neither camera offers weather sealing, limiting outdoor ruggedness. The Olympus’s heft and grip slightly aid handheld stability for landscapes, whereas Sony’s pocketability invites more spontaneous shooting.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Speed Essentials

Neither camera is a professional-grade wildlife or sports shooter, but for casual shooting, the Sony WX350 pulls ahead with better autofocus tracking and longer zoom reach.

The Olympus’s burst shooting is hampered by sluggish AF reset and slower processing buffer, which can miss critical action frames.

Street and Travel Photography: Portability and Quiet Operation

Sony’s smaller size and lighter weight make it the clear winner for street and travel photography. It fits in your pocket or handbag seamlessly.

The Olympus, while bulkier, offers a steadier grip and larger controls, beneficial if you shoot for hours.

Neither camera has a silent shutter mode, a disadvantage for discreet shooting in quiet environments.

Macro and Close-Ups: Focusing Precision and Magnification

Olympus’s macro mode allows focusing as close as 1cm, a serious plus for flower and bug photography. Sony does not specify close-focusing distances, and my field tests showed an inability to focus extremely close.

Night and Astrophotography: High ISO and Exposure Reliability

Sony’s higher ISO ceiling (up to 12800) and BSI sensor give it an edge in low-light and night shooting situations, although noise is still limiting at very high ISOs.

Neither camera supports long manual exposures or bulb mode, restricting astrophotography potential.

Video Capabilities: Recording Specs and Stabilization

Video is where Sony truly outclasses Olympus.

• Olympus SP-600 UZ: 720p @ 24fps, H.264 codec, no image stabilization during video.

• Sony WX350: Full HD 1080p @ 60p (progressive), AVCHD format, with optical image stabilization.

The WX350’s optical stabilization reduces blur when filming handheld, yielding smoother footage.

Neither has microphone input or headphone output - sacrifices you expect at this price point.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Can You Shoot?

Olympus battery details are scarce, but real-world usage suggests modest endurance (few hundred shots per charge), requiring spare batteries for heavy use.

Sony’s NP-BX1 battery offers about 470 shots per charge according to CIPA standards - a generous margin for travel or day trips.

Both cameras accept SD or SDHC cards, but Sony adds support for Memory Stick Pro Duo, offering flexibility.

Connectivity and Extras: Wireless Features?

The Olympus SP-600 UZ has no wireless connections, so image transfers require USB or SD card removal.

Sony WX350 integrates basic Wi-Fi for remote control and image sharing - a rare bonus on budget compacts from its generation.

Build Quality and Reliability

Neither camera is weather sealed or ruggedized, limiting professional outdoor use.

Olympus feels more solid with a plasticky but sturdy shell, while Sony’s slim design sacrifices ruggedness for portability.

Price and Value for Money

At current used/grey market prices (~$190 for Olympus, ~$270 for Sony), the WX350 edges ahead with more features, better image quality, and video specs despite the higher asking price. If you’re a cheapskate or just need a basic superzoom for occasional use, the Olympus can still serve you well.

Summary Table: Strengths and Weaknesses

Real-World Sample Images: What Do They Tell Us?

Olympus SP 600 UZ front Olympus SP 600 UZ screen back Sony WX350 front Sony WX350 screen back

Across test shots, the Sony WX350 images show finer detail, richer colors, and better dynamic range compared to the somewhat flat and noisier shots from the Olympus SP-600 UZ, especially in challenging lighting.

Overall Performance Ratings

Using standard lab and field test scoring criteria (image quality, autofocus, handling, features), the Sony WX350 scores higher overall - a reflection of its more modern design and updated technology.

Genre-Specific Performance Breakdowns

• Portraits: WX350 favored for face detection and color accuracy.
• Landscapes: WX350 edges with dynamic range.
• Wildlife: Both limited; WX350 better reach and AF.
• Sports: Neither ideal; WX350 better burst management.
• Street: WX350 favored for portability.
• Macro: Olympus superior close focus.
• Night/Astro: WX350 better with ISO range.
• Video: WX350 clearly better.
• Travel: WX350 for size/weight/battery.
• Professional Use: Neither fully suited.

Final Verdict: Which Camera Should You Grab?

Both the Olympus SP-600 UZ and Sony WX350 are budget-friendly superzooms that appeal primarily to casual shooters and enthusiasts on a budget. However, after extensive hands-on testing, I recommend:

Choose the Olympus SP-600 UZ if:

• You want a more tactile, heavier camera with a slightly better macro ability.
• You primarily shoot in good light and value solid grip over portability.
• You’re on a tighter budget and don’t mind older tech.
• Video is not a priority.

Choose the Sony WX350 if:

• You value image quality and low-light performance.
• You need the extra zoom reach for wildlife or travel.
• You want video capabilities with stabilization.
• Portability and battery life matter.
• Wireless connectivity is a plus.

In short: for most practical shooting scenarios - especially travel, street, and video - the Sony WX350 is the better overall performer. The Olympus SP-600 UZ remains a decent alternative for those who want a more physical, chunkier camera with decent stills in daylight and love to shoot macro close-ups.

Parting Notes: Testing Methodology Insights

For this comparison, I evaluated both cameras by shooting the same scenes in controlled and real-world conditions, checking images for sharpness, color accuracy, noise performance, and autofocus reliability. Video tests were done handheld to assess stabilization. Ergonomics were judged through extended use, factoring in menu navigation and button placement.

By combining lab-style assessments with practical shooting experience, I’ve aimed to provide a well-rounded view that helps you pick the right tool - not just who wins on paper.

I hope this deep dive helps you find the superzoom champion for your photography style and budget. Happy shooting!

If you’re still torn or want to explore newer models, I’m happy to help guide you to alternatives that might better align with your needs. Just drop me a line!