Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A35: A Hands-On Comparison From My Photo Bag

In the vast world of cameras, two models from the early 2010s caught my eye during a recent gear hunt: the Olympus SZ-11, a small sensor superzoom compact, and the Sony SLT-A35, an entry-level DSLR interchangeable lens camera. Both launched within months of each other in 2011, they represent very different philosophies - one prioritizing portability and zoom reach, the other more traditional DSLR handling and image quality.

Having spent weeks wading through specs, shooting side-by-side in all kinds of scenarios, and digging into their technical underpinnings, I’m excited to share an honest, down-to-earth comparison that will help you understand who each camera is really for. Whether you’re a snapshot-loving cheapskate, a travel buff, or an entry-level enthusiast stepping up to manual exposure modes, this deep dive will give you the clarity to make a confident choice.

Let’s jump in and start with the obvious: how these two cameras feel in your hands.

Size and Ergonomics: Clutching Convenience or DSLR Comfort?

You’d be hard-pressed to find two cameras more different in size and handling than the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A35. The SZ-11 is a small, pocketable compact, while the A35 is a proper DSLR with heft and chunky clubs for thumbs.

To give you a side-by-side perspective, here’s a size comparison image I took during testing:

The Olympus SZ-11 measures a trim 106x69x40mm and weighs a mere 226g. It’s eminently pocketable and designed for people who want a simple point-and-shoot superzoom without hauling a DSLR bag around. Its fixed lens with 20x zoom covers from 25mm wide-angle to 500mm telephoto - impressive for such a small body. The camera’s controls are minimalistic, aimed at casual shooters comfortable with automated settings.

Contrast that with the Sony A35, which weighs nearly double at 415g and measures 124x92x85mm. It’s undeniably bulkier but offers a more substantial grip. This camera is built for users who want DSLR handling: dials, buttons, and a lens mount supporting an ecosystem of over 140 lenses. For comfort and extended shooting, the A35 feels much more like a serious tool.

A quick look at the top panels highlights this design contrast:

The Sony’s cluster of dedicated exposure mode dials, buttons for ISO, metering, and AF mode, plus a bright LCD info screen, gives you faster manual control access. The Olympus SZ-11 keeps things simple, mainly toggling zoom and a few modes, which is fine if you’re snapping family photos but limiting for creative control.

Verdict on Handling

• Choose Olympus SZ-11 if you want portability, convenience, and a long zoom reach in a tiny package.
• Opt for Sony A35 if comfortable DSLR ergonomics and manual control accessibility matter to you.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Here’s where the cameras’ very different sensor technologies come into play. The Olympus SZ-11 sports a tiny 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with 14 megapixels, while the Sony A35 boasts a large APS-C sized CMOS sensor at 16 megapixels.

Let’s put that sensor size difference in context visually:

That Olympus sensor’s area (28.07mm²) is pitifully small compared to the Sony’s sizeable 366.6mm² APS-C sensor - over 13 times larger surface area capturing light! This has huge ramifications for image quality.

From testing, here’s what I found across key image quality parameters:

• Resolution & Detail: The Sony’s APS-C sensor captures more fine detail and produces noticeably sharper images at normal ISO levels. The Olympus’ 14 MP sensor has enough resolution for casual prints but struggles for serious cropped details.

• Noise Performance: The Sony A35’s sensor consistently produces clean images up to ISO 1600, and usable ones even beyond that, thanks to advanced CMOS technology. Olympus SZ-11 noise becomes evident above ISO 400, with grainy textures that limit low-light usability.

• Dynamic Range: The Sony’s sensor has superior dynamic range (~12.7 EV measured by DxO, which matches my experience), allowing better highlight retention and shadow recovery. Olympus’ CCD sensor is more limited, often clipping highlights in tricky lighting.

• Color Depth: Sony’s color reproduction is richer and more nuanced, especially in skin tones and natural scenes, thanks to the sensor and Bionz processor. Olympus colors tend to be flatter and less vibrant out of camera.

Here’s a gallery showing raw comparisons from both cameras under varied lighting to get a feel for their output:

Olympus SZ 11 front Olympus SZ 11 screen back Sony A35 front Sony A35 screen back

Practical Image Quality Takeaway

If you prize image excellence - portraits with flattering skin tone, crisp landscapes with broad tonal range, or wildlife shots with detail - the Sony A35 is the clear winner.

The Olympus SZ-11 is adequate for snapshots, travel photos, and casual use but falls short for serious image quality enthusiasts.

Autofocus Systems: Snapping Action or Hunting?

Autofocus (AF) performance can make or break a shooting session, particularly for wildlife, sports, or street street photography. From my experience:

• Olympus SZ-11: Employs contrast-detection AF with face detection. While somewhat competent in bright light, it is prone to hunting and misses fast-moving subjects. AF speed is moderate at best, which limits action potential.

• Sony A35: Uses hybrid AF with 15 phase-detection points plus contrast detection, delivering speedy, accurate focus acquisition. The phase detection makes a huge difference for trackable focus on moving subjects. Eye detection helps with portraits, too.

The Sony’s phase detection allows better continuous AF and tracking in burst mode (6fps on A35 vs 7fps burst on Olympus but slower AF in practice for the latter). For sports, wildlife, or kids-on-the-run, the Sony is a clear pro choice.

Usability: Screens, Viewfinders, and Menus

Both cameras feature fixed 3-inch LCD screens, but there are key usability differences.

• Olympus SZ-11’s 460k-dot TFT screen is basic, with decent viewing angles but limited resolution for critical focus checking.
• Sony A35’s 921k-dot LCD is sharper and better suited to reviewing images and menus.

The big ergonomic advantage for the Sony is its electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 1,150k dots and 100% coverage, providing an eye-level shooting experience. This is a huge bonus for composition in bright conditions where the LCD might wash out.

The SZ-11 has no viewfinder, requiring live view shooting exclusively, which slows framing in daylight and drains battery quicker.

On controls, Sony supports manual exposure modes - shutter, aperture priority, full manual - plus exposure compensation and bracketing. Olympus is limited to Program and Auto modes only, restricting creative flexibility.

Lens Systems and Versatility

• Olympus SZ-11: Fixed 25-500mm (20x optical zoom) lens with f/3.0-6.9 aperture is versatile for landscapes to distant subjects but suffers in low light at the long end due to narrow aperture.

• Sony A35: Compatible with 143 Sony/Minolta Alpha mount lenses, from fast primes to professional zooms. The in-body image stabilization (sensor-based) adds utility across lenses.

This vast lens ecosystem is a killer argument for the Sony; you’re not locked into a single optic and can craft your kit by genre or style.

Shooting Across Genres: Which Camera Excels Where?

Based on my hands-on shooting and technical testing, here’s how the two stack up across popular photography types.

Portrait Photography

• Sony A35: Distinct advantage due to better sensor, color depth, and AF with face detection. Ability to use fast prime lenses creates creamy bokeh and beautiful eye sharpness.
• Olympus SZ-11: Decent for casual portraits but struggles with skin tone rendition and subject isolation due to smaller sensor and slower lens.

Landscape Photography

• Sony’s superior dynamic range and high resolution shine here, delivering detailed files ready for large prints.
• Olympus is more limited but its extensive zoom can capture distant details, useful for casual scenery shots.

Wildlife Photography

• Sony’s phase-detect AF, faster burst, and bigger sensor make it far better for animal shots.
• Olympus’s long zoom is attractive but hampered by slower AF and limited image quality.

Sports Photography

• Sony wins through tracking accuracy, manual controls, and clean high ISO performance.
• Olympus is outmatched in fast pacing and subject tracking needs.

Street Photography

• Olympus’s stealthy pocket size is a bonus for discreet shooting.
• Sony is bulkier but offers manual control for creative exposure. EVF helps in bright sun.

Macro Photography

• Olympus has a 1 cm macro focusing distance, decent for casual close-ups.
• Sony’s compatibility with dedicated macro lenses and stabilization allows professional macro work.

Night & Astro Photography

• Sony’s wide ISO range and RAW support outperform Olympus’s noisy 1/2.3” CCD sensor.
• Olympus is more restricted to well-lit scenes.

Video Capabilities

• Sony A35: Full HD 1080p at 60fps, external microphone port, better codec options (AVCHD, MPEG-4), and in-body stabilization make it a more flexible video tool.
• Olympus SZ-11: Limited to 720p at 30fps in Motion JPEG, no external mic, impeding video quality.

Travel Photography

• Olympus SZ-11’s pocketability and zoom range make it a convenient travel companion.
• Sony offers better image quality and versatility but at cost of size and weight.

Professional Work

• Sony’s RAW support, exposure control, and robust file handling cater more to pro workflows.
• Olympus is for snapshots, not heavy-duty professional use.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera is weather-sealed or ruggedized. Both are entry-level with plastic bodies; however, Sony’s more substantial grip and compact-SLR body style feel more solid in hand.

No shockproof or waterproof certifications limit extreme environment usage.

Battery Life and Storage

Sony’s 440 shot rating nearly doubles Olympus’s modest 200 shots per charge, which can be a big deal on longer outings.

Both use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but Sony additionally supports Memory Stick formats for legacy users.

Connectivity and Extras

Both lack wireless features like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, a typical drawback for models from 2011.

Both support USB 2.0 and HDMI out for image transfer and external display.

The Bottom Line: What’s the Score?

Here’s a snapshot of how I scored their overall performance on core factors based on testing and industry data:

And a genre-specific breakdown for further clarity:

Pros and Cons At a Glance

Who Should Buy Which?

• Buy the Olympus SZ-11 if:

  • You want a superzoom travel-friendly compact for casual shooting.
  • You value lightweight gear and mega zoom over image perfection.
  • You’re a beginner or casual user who prioritizes point-and-shoot ease.
  • Your budget is tight (~$250 price point).

• Buy the Sony SLT-A35 if:

  • You’re stepping into DSLR territory and want image quality plus control.
  • You need versatile focusing and manual exposure for varied genres.
  • You plan to explore interchangeable lenses and expand your kit.
  • You shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or mid-speed action.
  • Higher budget (~$600 price point) fits your plans, balanced by performance.

Final Thoughts: Practical Experience Matters

In twenty years of hands-on camera testing, I’ve learned that no specs list or hype can substitute for shooting with gear in your hands. The Olympus SZ-11 and Sony SLT-A35 appeal to very different photographers.

The Olympus is a pocket zoom that delivers convenience and reach - a snapshot friend - but the sacrifice in image quality, low light, and creative control is considerable. It’s a fun travel companion, but not a tool for professional or serious enthusiast use.

The Sony A35 brings DSLR handling and sensor performance into the entry-level realm. Its hybrid AF, manual modes, and lens ecosystem offer a genuine step up - a smart buy for anyone wanting to learn, grow, and capture images beyond casual family albums.

If you can stretch your budget and appetite for photography slightly beyond casual, the Sony A35 is the wiser long-term investment. If simplicity and price trump everything else, the Olympus SZ-11 stakes an easy claim.

Choosing a camera is all about fit and purpose. I hope my experience-tested insights help you find your perfect match.

Happy shooting!