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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony RX1

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony RX1 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released February 2011
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Announced February 2013
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony RX1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-10 (14MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the SZ-10 (1/2.3") and RX1 (Full frame) boast different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-10 was unveiled 24 months earlier than the RX1 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SZ-10 grades against the RX1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Sony RX1

 SZ-10 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Olympus SZ-10

 RX1 SZ-10 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013February 2011More modern by 24 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen resolution1229k460kClearer screen (+769k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony RX1

 SZ-10 RX1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-10 has got physical dimensions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Sony RX1 has sizing of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony RX1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-10 against the RX1.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-10 and RX1 is 90 and 79 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes simply by reading specs. The image underneath should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-10 and RX1.

All in all, the 2 cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-10 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony RX1 will offer extra detail having an extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots more aggressively. The more aged SZ-10 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Portrait photography camera
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
82
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/4,000 seconds)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (215g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
66
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
very good high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-10
Sports photography with Sony RX1
40
amazing zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
53
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
focal length is fixed (35mm)
slow fps (5.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Travel photography factors
Sony RX1 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than average in class (215g)
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great reach (504mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low battery power (220 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
62
resolution is good (24MP)
has built in flash
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery life (270 per charge)
more heavy than competition in class (482 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX1 Landscape photography highlights
40
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery power (220 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
65
manual focus
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (270 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Vlogging highlights
Sony RX1 Vlogging highlights
31
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
lighter than average in class (215 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic port
34
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (482 grams)
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Sony RX1
 Olympus SZ-10Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-10 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Released 2011-02-08 2013-02-19
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-504mm (18.0x) 35mm (1x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-4.4 f/2.0-22.0
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.10 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/4000s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 215 grams (0.47 pounds) 482 grams (1.06 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 93
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.3
DXO Low light score not tested 2534
Other
Battery life 220 shots 270 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $300 $2,798