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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A350

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 front
Portability
62
Imaging
53
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A350 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
Sony A350
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 674g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Announced June 2008
  • Refreshed by Sony A380
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A350 Overview

Following is a extended analysis of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A350, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the A350 (14MP) is fairly similar but the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and A350 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-16 iHS was released 4 years after the A350 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A350 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SZ-16 iHS matches up against the A350 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony A350

 SZ-16 iHS A350 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013June 2008More modern by 56 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A350 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 A350 SZ-16 iHS 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A350

 SZ-16 iHS A350 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A350 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS enjoys outside measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony A350 has dimensions of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A350 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the SZ-16 iHS versus the A350.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A350 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and A350 is 89 and 62 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A350 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A350 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizes simply by going over specs. The picture below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-16 iHS and A350.

All in all, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-16 iHS featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS will offer extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The fresher SZ-16 iHS will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A350 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A350 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A350 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography factors
Sony A350 Portrait photography factors
35
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
71
focusing manually
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Street photography with Sony A350
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
66
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
more heavy than competition (674g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography info
Sony A350 Sports photography info
42
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony A350 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competitors (226g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
51
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (674 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography details
Sony A350 Landscape photography details
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
64
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging information
Sony A350 Vlogging information
31
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
9
no video shooting
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A350 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A350
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A350
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-01-08 2008-06-06
Physical type 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 surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 674 grams (1.49 pounds)
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 rating not tested 65
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 595
Other
Battery life 220 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $230 $600