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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX20V

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX20V 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
  • Announced January 2013
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched July 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX10V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX30V
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX20V Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX20V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the HX20V (18MP) is very comparable and both cameras posses the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was manufactured 6 months after the HX20V which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the SZ-16 iHS scores against the HX20V with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony HX20V

 SZ-16 iHS HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 HX20V SZ-16 iHS 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display resolution922k460kSharper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony HX20V

 SZ-16 iHS HX20V 
LaunchedJanuary 2013July 2012Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS has exterior dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony HX20V has proportions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX20V in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-16 iHS and the HX20V.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-16 iHS and HX20V is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions just by checking out specifications. The image below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-16 iHS and HX20V.

To sum up, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Sony HX20V to provide extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images way more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Portrait photography camera
35
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
45
you can focus manually
MP count good (18MP)
provides face detection focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Street photography with Sony HX20V
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Sports photography with Sony HX20V
42
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
provides tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Travel photography with Sony HX20V
65
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Landscape photography with Sony HX20V
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
50
you can focus manually
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Sony HX20V
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
lighter than competitors (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony HX20V
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-01-08 2012-07-20
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
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 fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 254g (0.56 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 320 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $230 $397