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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony S950

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony S950 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
  • Launched February 2011
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony S950 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-10 versus Sony S950, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-10 (14MP) and S950 (10MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ-10 was unveiled 2 years later than the S950 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the SZ-10 matches up versus the S950 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Sony S950

 SZ-10 S950 
LaunchedFebruary 2011February 2009More recent by 25 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Olympus SZ-10

 S950 SZ-10 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony S950

 SZ-10 S950 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-10 provides external dimensions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Sony S950 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-10 versus Sony S950 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ-10 versus the S950.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-10 and S950 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements simply by viewing specifications. The photograph underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-10 and S950.

To sum up, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Olympus SZ-10 to result in extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The newer SZ-10 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography highlights
Sony S950 Portrait photography highlights
33
decent MP (14MP)
supports face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
26
you can focus manually
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Street photography highlights
Sony S950 Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (215g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography advice
Sony S950 Sports photography advice
40
amazing zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
24
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-10
Travel photography with Sony S950
65
lighter than average in class (215 grams)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
long zoom (504mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
50
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-10
Landscape photography with Sony S950
40
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
31
you can focus manually
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not available
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S950 as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than average in class (215 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
9
no video recording
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Sony S950
 Olympus SZ-10Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-10 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-02-08 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-504mm (18.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-4.4 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.10 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 215g (0.47 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $300 $130