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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 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 NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-C3
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-3N
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony NEX-F3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the NEX-F3 (16MP) is very similar but the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and NEX-F3 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-16 iHS was announced 5 months later than the NEX-F3 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the SZ-16 iHS grades versus the NEX-F3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony NEX-F3

 SZ-16 iHS NEX-F3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 NEX-F3 SZ-16 iHS 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony NEX-F3

 SZ-16 iHS NEX-F3 
RevealedJanuary 2013August 2012Similar age
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS features external dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony NEX-F3 has sizing of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony NEX-F3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the SZ-16 iHS against the NEX-F3.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and NEX-F3 is 89 and 86 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specs. The visual here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-16 iHS and NEX-F3.

As you can plainly see, both cameras offer the same exact resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The SZ-16 iHS has the tinier sensor which will make achieving shallower depth of field trickier.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-F3 Portrait photography advice
35
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Street photography with Sony NEX-F3
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-F3 Sports photography highlights
42
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
53
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery (470 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than average (226 grams)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (220 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
great battery (470 shots)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-F3
41
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
70
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
great battery (470 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Vlogging camera
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than average (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic port
27
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of external mic support
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony NEX-F3
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2013-01-08 2012-08-16
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 16000
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Number of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 314 grams (0.69 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1114
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 470 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $230 $470