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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A900

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
Portability
54
Imaging
66
Features
62
Overall
64

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A900 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
  • Revealed January 2013
Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced October 2008
  • Renewed by Sony A99
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A900 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A900, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and A900 (25MP) and the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and A900 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-16 iHS was introduced 4 years after the A900 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief view of how the SZ-16 iHS grades vs the A900 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony A900

 SZ-16 iHS A900 
IntroducedJanuary 2013October 2008More modern by 52 months

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 A900 SZ-16 iHS 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A900

 SZ-16 iHS A900 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A900 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS has external 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 Sony A900 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A900 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-16 iHS vs the A900.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A900 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-16 iHS and A900 is 89 and 54 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A900 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A900 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizes purely by going over specs. The pic here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-16 iHS and A900.

All in all, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ-16 iHS using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony A900 will deliver greater detail using its extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images more aggressively. The younger SZ-16 iHS is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A900 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography highlights
Sony A900 Portrait photography highlights
35
good resolution (16MP)
offers face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
71
you can focus manually
MP count fantastic (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography info
Sony A900 Street photography info
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Sports photography with Sony A900
42
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count fantastic (25 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography factors
Sony A900 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery life (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
54
environment sealing
MP count fantastic (25 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography details
Sony A900 Landscape photography details
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
72
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count fantastic (25MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
doesn't have liveview
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging information
Sony A900 Vlogging information
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone support
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A900
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A900
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2013-01-08 2008-10-22
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6048 x 4032
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/250 seconds
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 data 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 895g (1.97 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1431
Other
Battery life 220 shots 880 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
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 Dual
Pricing at launch $230 $2,736