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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A57

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A57 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
  • Introduced January 2013
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A55
  • Replacement is Sony A58
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A57 Overview

Here is a in-depth review of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A57, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-16 iHS was released 4 months later than the A57 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a quick overview of how the SZ-16 iHS matches up versus the A57 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony A57

 SZ-16 iHS A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 A57 SZ-16 iHS 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A57

 SZ-16 iHS A57 
IntroducedJanuary 2013September 2012Similar generation
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS has 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) and the Sony A57 has proportions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A57 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-16 iHS vs the A57.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A57 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and A57 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizing only by checking specifications. The photograph below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-16 iHS and A57.

To sum up, both of those cameras provide the same megapixels but not the same sensor sizing. The SZ-16 iHS comes with the tinier sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF harder.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography features
Sony A57 Portrait photography features
35
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
74
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Street photography with Sony A57
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
75
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Sports photography with Sony A57
42
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 per charge)
no phase detect AF
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography details
Sony A57 Travel photography details
65
lighter than competitors (226g)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery (220 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
67
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
no Time Lapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Landscape photography with Sony A57
41
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
bad battery (220 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
72
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging highlights
Sony A57 Vlogging highlights
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic socket
77
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic support
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A57
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony SLT-A57
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony SLT-A57
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2013-01-08 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Color LCD Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 618g (1.36 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 785
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 550 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $230 $1,000