Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500
89 Imaging
39 Features
36 Overall
37


87 Imaging
67 Features
80 Overall
72
Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Samsung NX500. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-16 iHS Gallery and Samsung NX500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Samsung NX500
SZ-16 iHS | NX500 |
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Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS
NX500 | SZ-16 iHS | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | February 2015 | ![]() | January 2013 | Newer by 25 months |
Focus manually | ![]() | Very exact focusing | ||
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display resolution | 1036k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper display (+576k dot) |
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Samsung NX500
SZ-16 iHS | NX500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Samsung NX500 Specifications
Olympus SZ-16 iHS | Samsung 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 |