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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Samsung NX500 front
Portability
87
Imaging
67
Features
80
Overall
72

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Revealed January 2013
Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Previous Model is Samsung NX300
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Samsung. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and NX500 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-16 iHS was manufactured 3 years prior to the NX500 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SZ-16 iHS grades vs the NX500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Samsung NX500

 SZ-16 iHS NX500 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 NX500 SZ-16 iHS 
IntroducedFebruary 2015January 2013Newer by 25 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1036k460kSharper display (+576k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Samsung NX500

 SZ-16 iHS NX500 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS offers outer dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX500 has measurements of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-16 iHS versus the NX500.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and NX500 is 89 and 87 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions only by looking through specs. The image below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-16 iHS and NX500.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-16 iHS due to its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Samsung NX500 will render greater detail due to its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged SZ-16 iHS will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography highlights
Samsung NX500 Portrait photography highlights
34
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
80
you can focus manually
excellent MP (28MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Street photography with Samsung NX500
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
81
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
comes with touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Sports photography camera
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
75
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
excellent MP (28 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography info
Samsung NX500 Travel photography info
65
lighter than others in class (226g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery (220 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
78
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch focus
excellent MP (28 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography factors
Samsung NX500 Landscape photography factors
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
terrible battery (220 shots)
no Time Lapse function
79
you can focus manually
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
excellent MP (28 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Samsung NX500
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic socket
34
has touchscreen
provides face detect focus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone port
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Samsung NX500
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSamsung NX500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus SZ-16 iHS Samsung NX500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-01-08 2015-02-06
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - DRIMe 5
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 28 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6480 x 4320
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 209
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Total lenses - 32
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 1,036 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 9.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480
Highest video resolution 1280x720 4096x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.265
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 287g (0.63 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 87
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 1379
Other
Battery life 220 shots 370 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $230 $800