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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony TX20

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony TX20 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 TX20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 133g - 96 x 56 x 18mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony TX20 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Sony TX20, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the TX20 (16MP) is very comparable and both cameras offer the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was announced 11 months after the TX20 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony TX20 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SZ-16 iHS scores vs the TX20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony TX20

 SZ-16 iHS TX20 
LaunchedJanuary 2013February 2012More modern by 11 months

Reasons to pick Sony TX20 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 TX20 SZ-16 iHS 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony TX20

 SZ-16 iHS TX20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony TX20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS offers outer dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony TX20 has specifications of 96mm x 56mm x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Sony TX20 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the SZ-16 iHS versus the TX20.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony TX20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-16 iHS and TX20 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony TX20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony TX20 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes purely by seeing specs. The pic underneath will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-16 iHS and TX20.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size and the same exact MP therefore you can expect comparable quality of images but you should consider the age of the cameras into account. The more recent SZ-16 iHS provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony TX20 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony TX20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony TX20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography advice
Sony TX20 Portrait photography advice
35
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
40
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography features
Sony TX20 Street photography features
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
67
image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch focus
environment proofing
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Sports photography with Sony TX20
42
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
slow fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
50
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
better than average battery (250 CIPA)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony TX20 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
72
better than average battery (250 shots)
environment proofing
provides touch focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony TX20 as a Landscape photography camera
41
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery pack (220 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
52
focusing manually
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
better than average battery (250 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Sony TX20
31
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic jack
35
pretty wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony TX20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony TX20
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Revealed 2013-01-08 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-4.6
Macro focus range - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 3.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 133g (0.29 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 96 x 56 x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 photographs 250 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch cost $230 $330