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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A6500

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A6500 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 A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Released October 2016
  • Replaced the Sony A6300
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A6500 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A6500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and A6500 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-16 iHS was introduced 4 years prior to the A6500 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the SZ-16 iHS matches up vs the A6500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony A6500

 SZ-16 iHS A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 A6500 SZ-16 iHS 
ReleasedOctober 2016January 2013Fresher by 45 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A6500

 SZ-16 iHS A6500 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS comes with outside measurements 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 A6500 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A6500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-16 iHS against the A6500.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-16 iHS and A6500 is 89 and 81 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizing only by reading through specifications. The graphic here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-16 iHS and A6500.

To sum up, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ-16 iHS having a tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony A6500 will resolve extra detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older SZ-16 iHS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Portrait photography with Sony A6500
35
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
80
has manual focus
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography information
Sony A6500 Street photography information
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
supports focus by touch
environment proofing
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Sports photography camera
42
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
77
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
bad battery pack (350 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography factors
Sony A6500 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse function
bad battery (220 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
74
environment proofing
supports bluetooth
supports focus by touch
decent MP (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery pack (350 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography highlights
Sony A6500 Landscape photography highlights
41
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery (220 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
bad battery pack (350 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging details
Sony A6500 Vlogging details
31
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone jack
39
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with mic socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A6500
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony Alpha a6500
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony Alpha a6500
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-01-08 2016-10-06
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 425
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Max silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 453 gr (1.00 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 85
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1405
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 350 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $230 $1,298