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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX1

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX1 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 HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Launched April 2009
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX1 Overview

Following is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Sony HX1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and HX1 (1/2.4") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-16 iHS was released 3 years after the HX1 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short overview of how the SZ-16 iHS grades vs the HX1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony HX1

 SZ-16 iHS HX1 
LaunchedJanuary 2013April 2009More modern by 46 months
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 HX1 SZ-16 iHS 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony HX1

 SZ-16 iHS HX1 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS features outer 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 HX1 has sizing of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Sony HX1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ-16 iHS versus the HX1.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-16 iHS and HX1 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading specifications. The picture here will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-16 iHS and HX1.

To sum up, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-16 iHS featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS will deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 7 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The newer SZ-16 iHS is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Portrait photography with Sony HX1
35
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
27
manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (9MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Street photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Street photography camera
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
50
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (544 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Sports photography with Sony HX1
42
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
36
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Travel photography with Sony HX1
65
lighter than average (226g)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
48
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (544 grams)
sensor resolution low (9MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography advice
Sony HX1 Landscape photography advice
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery power (220 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
39
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (9MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging features
Sony HX1 Vlogging features
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
lighter than average (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic support
22
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1440 x 1080 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (544g)
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony HX1
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-01-08 2009-04-22
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 9MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus range - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 9.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1440x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 544 grams (1.20 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $230 $47,999