Olympus SP-620 UZ vs Sony RX10 II: A Deep Dive into Two Superzoom Compacts for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing the right camera these days is hardly simple, especially when you land between two vastly different superzoom compacts that cater to slightly divergent photography styles and ambitions. Today, I’ve put the venerable Olympus SP-620 UZ (released in early 2012) head-to-head against the much more recent and technically sophisticated Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II (from mid-2015). Both fall under the superzoom umbrella but couldn't be more distinct in sensor technology, handling, image quality, and feature set. I’ve spent many hours testing and shooting with them in various environments, so I’ll walk you through a thorough comparison based on practical performance, technicalities, and how each stacks up across different photography disciplines and real-world scenarios.

Let’s start by putting the two on the literal and metaphorical table to grasp their form factors and core design philosophies.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Build

If you’re like me, the feel of the camera in your hands makes a huge difference in your shooting experience, whether roaming city streets or hiking landscapes.

The Olympus SP-620 UZ is compact and somewhat chunky - fitting nicely in a jacket pocket or small bag. At 435g, it’s lightweight but, due to its boxy compact body, it feels less like a DSLR or bridge and more like an everyday point-and-shoot with a serious zoom lens.

Contrast this with the Sony RX10 II, which weighs nearly double at 813g and has a big, robust, DSLR-esque body. Dimensions are noticeably larger (129x88x102mm) compared to the Olympus’s more petite profile. Design-wise, the RX10 II screams professional shooting with comfortable grips, more pronounced dials, and a top-plate that caters to manual controls.

Take a look at the control layout from above:

Sony has equipped the RX10 II with dedicated control dials for shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, and a mode dial - ideal for hands-on adjustment without digging into menus. Meanwhile, Olympus opts for a simplified interface, sans manual exposure modes or priority modes, relying heavily on auto and scene selections. The lack of manual exposure modes in the SP-620 UZ seriously limits its appeal to more advanced photographers.

While the RX10 II’s body is larger and heavier, it inspires confidence - weather-sealed and built for rugged conditions (somewhat splash and dust-resistant). The Olympus is strictly a compact with no environmental sealing, so I’d be more comfortable taking the Sony into varied outdoor settings, especially landscapes and wildlife shoots.

Ergonomics verdict: If portability and casual shooting are priorities, Olympus wins. If you want a serious bridge camera with pro handling - easy to grip, extensive control - Sony sets the bar.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of Every Camera

This is where these two couldn’t diverge more significantly. Sensor size and technology have a dramatic impact on image quality, especially when comparing a 1/2.3” CCD sensor with a 1” BSI-CMOS sensor.

Olympus SP-620 UZ sports a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with 16MP resolution, physically measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm (~28.07 mm² area). It’s basically the old guard of compact sensors - adequate in bright daylight but falls short under noise-sensitive or low-light conditions.

Sony RX10 II uses a 1-inch backside illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor - far larger at 13.2 x 8.8 mm (~116.16 mm²) and with a higher 20.2MP resolution. This sensor size gap (~4x sensor area difference) provides superior dynamic range, low-light performance, and color gradation. The Truely modern BSI technology means more light capture per pixel, cleaner output, and smoother shadows.

Some key measured performance differences from benchmarks:

• Dynamic Range: Sony offers an excellent 12.6 EV dynamic range, allowing for better highlight retention and shadow detail recovery during editing. Olympus doesn’t have DXO data but we can expect notably lesser DR given its sensor type and size.
• ISO Performance: Sony native ISO tops out at 12,800 with usable quality, and expanded ISO to 25,600 for emergencies. Olympus maxes out at ISO 3200 but only clean at base ISOs.
• Color Depth: Sony achieves 23 bits (excellent for tonal transitions), while the Olympus CCD sensor is expected to have lower color fidelity.

Further, Sony’s support for RAW file output vs Olympus’ JPEG-only means much more versatility in post-processing workflows.

Bottom line: If image quality is paramount, especially for demanding situations - portraits with natural skin tones, landscapes with intricate textures, or low-light shooting - the RX10 II is leagues ahead.

Display and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shots

Electronic interfaces matter enormously for framing, focusing, and immediate review.

The Olympus offers a fixed 3-inch, 230K dot TFT LCD - serviceable but outdated and low-res by today’s standards. Composing outdoors in bright light means battling reflections and limited viewing angles. Plus, no touch or tilt functionality reduces operational flexibility.

By contrast, Sony’s RX10 II features a 3-inch tilting LCD with 1,229K dots, delivering crisp details and rich colors. Tilting the screen facilitates awkward-angle shots (overhead or low ground), which is vital for macro or wildlife photography. No touch though - a mild disappointment, but its Sony menu system and precise button controls somewhat compensate.

Equally important is Sony’s high-res electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.35M dots, 100% coverage, and 0.7x magnification. The Olympus has no viewfinder at all. This gives Sony shooters the advantage of precise composition and stable framing, especially in bright daylight or action scenarios.

Long hours shooting with an EVF instead of just the rear screen markedly reduces eye strain and boosts focusing accuracy.

So for composition and UI, Sony’s RX10 II is the clear winner.

Autofocus, Speed, and Handling Action

When it comes to autofocus systems, responsiveness can make or break your experience - in wildlife, sports, or candid street shooting.

Olympus SP-620 UZ relies on contrast-detection AF and offers face detection, but only a single autofocus mode with no phase-detect. Olympus lists AF tracking as supported but it’s rudimentary at best given the dated hardware.

Sony RX10 II boasts a far superior system:

• 25 contrast-detection AF points capable of selective, continuous, live view tracking.
• Face detection with refined algorithms.
• Continuous shooting at up to 14 fps, which is stellar for a bridge camera.
• A hybrid shutter system offering speeds up to 1/32000s electronic shutter (great for bright conditions), and silent operation modes.

In real-world use, the Sony focuses swiftly on moving subjects, tracks faces and objects with good reliability, and captures fast bursts without buffer issues. Olympus’s AF, however, often feels sluggish and hunts especially in low light or longer focal lengths where zoom reach is extensive (525mm equivalent).

For sports, wildlife, and any fast-paced genres, the RX10 II is clearly optimized for better results.

Lens and Zoom Range: Reach vs Quality

Let’s talk lenses. Both cameras have fixed lenses, which is typical but important to assess zoom factor and aperture.

• Olympus SP-620 UZ: 25-525mm equivalent (21x zoom), max aperture f/3.1-5.8
• Sony RX10 II: 24-200mm equivalent (8.3x zoom), max aperture f/2.8 constant

Olympus’s massive zoom range is impressive on paper - 21x is great for extreme reach, handy if you want a heavenly range without swapping lenses. On the flip side, the aperture closing from f/3.1 to f/5.8 at full tele ends up limiting low-light and bokeh potential.

Sony opts for a smaller zoom range but couples it with a very fast constant f/2.8 aperture - rare for bridge cameras - and high-quality Zeiss optics. This translates into brighter viewfinder images, better low-light usability, and richer background blur for portraits or creative shots.

So while Olympus offers reach, the RX10 II provides superior optical quality and creative flexibility thanks to the fast lens.

Assessing the Cameras Across Major Photography Styles

Now, let's see how these specs and features translate into real scenarios:

Portraits

• Sony RX10 II gets my vote for natural skin tones, sharp eyes (thanks to face and eye detection AF), and smoother subject isolation with f/2.8 aperture.
• Olympus can handle casual portraits but background blur is mediocre and autofocus can miss.
• RX10’s RAW output allows richer color grading in post.

Landscapes

• RX10 II’s large sensor, superior dynamic range, and weather sealing make it ideal for vibrant, detailed landscapes in changing light and weather.
• Olympus is portable and zoom-friendly but max shutter speeds and sensor quality limit image quality.

Wildlife

• The SP-620 UZ maxes out at 525mm zoom; great on paper for distant wildlife.
• However, due to slow AF, no burst mode, and poor low-light ISO, it’s less suited for active subjects.
• RX10 II’s rapid 14fps continuous shooting, good AF tracking, and stabilized f/2.8 lens make it much more capable for wildlife action (albeit max 200mm zoom is limiting for very distant subjects but can be extended digitally or with cropping).

Sports

• RX10 II again shines for action sports due to fast frame rates, precise AF, and EVF composition.
• Olympus has no continuous shooting and weak AF, limiting it to casual snapshots.

Street Photography

• Olympus’s small body and zoom range make it discreet and pocketable for street photography - great for quick grabbing shots with varying focal lengths.
• Sony is bulkier but the electronic viewfinder and fast lens help in low light and discrete framing.

Macro

• Olympus allows focusing down to 1cm, which is impressive for a compact; handy for casual macro or detail shots.
• Sony’s minimum focus distance at 3cm is respectable but not specialized macro.
• Both have sensor-shift and optical stabilization which helps handheld close-up shooting.

Night and Astro

• RX10 II kills it with higher ISO capabilities, larger sensor capturing more stars and subtle light, and slower shutter support.
• SP-620 UZ maxes out at ISO 3200, noisy output with no RAW format.

Video

• SP-620 UZ tops out at 720p HD video at 30fps - acceptable for casual use but dated.
• RX10 II supports 4K UHD (3840x2160) up to 30fps, plus advanced codecs (XAVC-S), and has a microphone/headphone jack combo for audio monitoring. Stabilization also works during video.
• For multimedia creators, the RX10 II is a clear winner.

Travel

• Olympus’s compact size and zoom make it easy to carry, plus the AA battery system means you can swap batteries globally with ease.
• RX10 II is bigger but offers better image quality, Wi-Fi, and robust battery life (around 400 shots per charge).

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Practical Use

The RX10 II features dust and splash resistance, a big plus if you shoot outdoors in varying conditions. Olympus offers none of these protections.

In terms of reliability, I’ve found the RX10 II to be rock-solid, optimized for professionals needing a rugged all-in-one solution. The Olympus is more consumer-grade, suitable for family outings or beginner-level photography.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery

Sony incorporates built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, easing wireless image transfer and remote operation - features absent in the Olympus. Both use SD cards but Sony also supports Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick formats.

Battery-wise, Olympus runs on 4 AA batteries, which are easy to find anywhere but tend to be heavier and less eco-friendly; rechargeable options are available. Sony uses a proprietary NP-FW50 rechargeable lithium-ion battery offering up to 400 images per charge - good but you’ll likely want spares for long trips.

Price-to-Performance and Who Should Buy Which?

Let’s look at the price difference:

• Olympus SP-620 UZ around $199 (entry-level, budget-friendly)
• Sony RX10 II around $998 (mid-range prosumer/enthusiast level)

You get what you pay for, and the RX10 II justifies its premium with a massive leap in image quality, build, autofocus, and video capabilities. The Olympus is an affordable, pocketable zoom camera for casual shooters or as a secondary travel lens-solution.

If your budget is tight, you want huge zoom reach, and mainly shoot well-lit casual subjects, the Olympus SP-620 UZ might be enough for you. If you demand quality, speed, and versatility and are willing to invest, the RX10 II is worth every cent.

Summing It All Up: Scores and Final Recommendations

Here’s a quick glance at overall performance metrics I gathered (weighted for photography and videography use):

And genre-specific strengths:

My takeaway:

• For casual, travel, and simple zoom photography: Olympus SP-620 UZ suits easygoing users who prioritize reach and compactness at a low price.
• For advanced enthusiasts and professionals across most genres - portraits, wildlife, sports, landscapes, video - Sony RX10 II delivers comprehensive tools, exceptional image quality, and rugged ergonomics that can keep up with demanding shoots.

Real Image Examples: See the Difference Yourself

Nothing beats hands-on comparison in real-world shots:

Olympus SP 620 UZ front Olympus SP 620 UZ screen back Sony RX10 II front Sony RX10 II screen back

You’ll notice Sony’s better dynamic range, cleaner highlights, and richer color saturation, especially in challenging light, while Olympus’s images are workable but less vibrant and detailed.

Closing Thoughts: Expert Advice from My Experience

Having tested both cameras extensively, here’s my final word. Don’t be deceived by zoom specs alone - sensor tech and lens design are game-changers. The Olympus SP-620 UZ feels like a relic from the early 2010s - a decent point-and-shoot but lacking the responsiveness, quality, and manual flexibility enthusiasts want today.

Sony RX10 II, despite its age, remains a brilliant all-rounder bridging the gap between compact superzooms and mirrorless cameras. The image quality, control, and video prowess still hold up impressively.

If you want a camera that lets you grow, experiment with manual settings, and produce professional-grade images and video without swapping lenses, the RX10 II will delight you.

If you lean towards casual photography with budget constraints and want an easy, all-in-one zoom solution for snapshots and travel, the SP-620 UZ is a straightforward choice.

Happy shooting, whatever you pick!

If detailed hands-on reviews of other cameras or coaching on maximizing your new gear sounds helpful, just shout - I’ve tested thousands of models and love breaking it all down for photographers at every level.