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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony HX1

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony HX1 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released July 2011
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Announced April 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony HX1 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony HX1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the SZ-11 (14MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the SZ-11 (1/2.3") and HX1 (1/2.4") use totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-11 was introduced 2 years later than the HX1 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a short view of how the SZ-11 grades vs the HX1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Sony HX1

 SZ-11 HX1 
AnnouncedJuly 2011April 2009More recent by 28 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus SZ-11

 HX1 SZ-11 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony HX1

 SZ-11 HX1 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-11 provides outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony HX1 has measurements of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") and a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony HX1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-11 vs the HX1.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-11 and HX1 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to see the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading a spec sheet. The visual underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-11 and HX1.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ-11 having a larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus SZ-11 will offer extra detail using its extra 5 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The more modern SZ-11 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Portrait photography info
Sony HX1 Portrait photography info
33
megapixel count decent (14MP)
comes with face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
27
manual focus
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (9MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Street photography details
Sony HX1 Street photography details
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have RAW files
heavier than competition (544g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography factors
Sony HX1 Sports photography factors
43
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
36
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count low (9MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX1 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse function
bad battery life (200 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
48
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
long zoom (560mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (544g)
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-11
Landscape photography with Sony HX1
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
bad battery life (200 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
39
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX1 Vlogging highlights
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than competitors (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack
22
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1440 x 1080 resolution)
missing mic jack
heavier than competition (544g)
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Sony HX1
 Olympus SZ-11Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-11 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-07-27 2009-04-22
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 9 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 9.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1440x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 226g (0.50 lbs) 544g (1.20 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $253 $47,999