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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX300

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX300 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 HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Launched February 2013
  • Replaced the Sony HX200V
  • Successor is Sony HX400V
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX300 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony HX300, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the HX300 (20MP) is very well matched and both cameras have the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was launched about the same time to the HX300 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a concise view of how the SZ-16 iHS grades against the HX300 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony HX300

 SZ-16 iHS HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 HX300 SZ-16 iHS 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony HX300

 SZ-16 iHS HX300 
LaunchedJanuary 2013February 2013Similar generation
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS has got outer measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony HX300 has sizing of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony HX300 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view size comparison of the SZ-16 iHS and the HX300.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and HX300 is 89 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading through technical specs. The image underneath should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-16 iHS and HX300.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You should expect to see the Sony HX300 to resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Portrait photography camera
35
good megapixels (16MP)
includes face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
42
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography details
Sony HX300 Street photography details
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than average in class (623 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Sports photography camera
42
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
includes tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 shots)
no phase detect AF
55
incredible zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography highlights
Sony HX300 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competition (226g)
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
54
MP count good (20MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (623g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Landscape photography camera
41
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
48
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging details
Sony HX300 Vlogging details
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
lighter than competition (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone port
25
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (623g)
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony HX300
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-01-08 2013-02-20
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-6.3
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 623g (1.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) -
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots One One
Retail price $230 $339