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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A300

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
45
Overall
47

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A300 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched January 2013
Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Released January 2008
  • New Model is Sony A330
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A300 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A300, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and A300 (10MP) and the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and A300 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-16 iHS was released 5 years later than the A300 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SZ-16 iHS scores versus the A300 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony A300

 SZ-16 iHS A300 
ReleasedJanuary 2013January 2008Fresher by 61 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 A300 SZ-16 iHS 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A300

 SZ-16 iHS A300 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS has exterior measurements 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 Sony A300 has specifications of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A300 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-16 iHS vs the A300.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A300 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-16 iHS and A300 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing purely by checking out specifications. The visual here will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-16 iHS and A300.

Plainly, the two cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ-16 iHS because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS will produce more detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos way more aggressively. The younger SZ-16 iHS provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A300 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography info
Sony A300 Portrait photography info
35
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Street photography with Sony A300
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography factors
Sony A300 Sports photography factors
42
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 shots)
has no phase detect AF
54
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Travel photography with Sony A300
65
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery power (220 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
45
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A300 as a Landscape photography camera
41
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery power (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
57
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (10MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony A300 as a Vlogging camera
31
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A300
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A300
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2013-01-08 2008-01-30
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 632 gr (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.4
DXO Low light score not tested 538
Other
Battery life 220 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $230 $0