Olympus Stylus 1 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100: Bridge Superzoom Meets Lens-Style Innovation

In an era where smartphone cameras dominate casual photography, specialized compact solutions like the Olympus Stylus 1 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100 carve unique niches. These two models, both announced in 2013, target users seeking more optical versatility and image quality without lugging around bulky gear. Yet, their distinct form factors, sensor architectures, and operational approaches position them very differently for varied photographic needs.

Having spent hours of hands-on testing, evaluating both cameras across key photography disciplines - from portraits to wildlife and travel to night shots - I’m excited to unpack their real-world performance, technical nuances, and ultimately, help you make an informed choice tailored to your style and budget. Let’s dive in.

First Impressions: Form Factor and Ergonomics that Set the Tone

Before you judge a camera by its specs sheet, you have to hold it. I find the physical experience often informs usability more than pixel counts or aperture ranges.

Olympus Stylus 1 feels robust - solidly built with a classic SLR-like bridge design. Measuring 116x87x57mm and weighing 402 grams, it fits well in hand without feeling bulky, striking a nice balance between portability and ergonomic control. The control layout features dedicated dials and a mode selector that seasoned users appreciate for rapid adjustments. This all-around form invites you to instinctively shoot in a variety of conditions.

Contrast that with the Sony QX100, an unconventional lens-style camera measuring 63x63x56mm and weighing just 179 grams. It’s essentially a compact lens and sensor combo designed to physically mount on or work alongside your smartphone. There’s no built-in viewfinder or screen; instead, it relies entirely on a connected phone app for framing and settings. While its size is minuscule - excellent for stealth or pocket storage - the lack of tactile controls and dependence on a smartphone interface affects quick handling and responsiveness.

The tilting touchscreen on the Olympus and its electronic viewfinder with 1440-pixel resolution offers tangible framing advantages over the Sony's phone-dependent live view. For me, that’s a meaningful difference for on-the-fly shooting scenarios.

Top Controls and Interface: Command Central for Creativity

Navigating a camera’s operational design shows how well it supports your creative flow.

The Olympus Stylus 1 sports a well-thought-out top deck complete with exposure, shutter priority modes, customizable buttons, and a seven frames-per-second burst dial - features that hint at its ambition to serve semi-pro and enthusiast users. Physical dials and buttons are spaced intuitively, reducing fumbling in fast-paced moments.

By contrast, the Sony QX100’s minimalistic hardware footprint eschews traditional cameras’ tactile feedback. Controls are mostly mediated through the smartphone app, which naturally limits grip-and-go shooting or shooting without a phone tether. While the app interface is functional, it adds latency and complexity, especially for manual exposure tweaks or quick focus changes.

As an enthusiast who values direct control, I find Olympus’s approach more satisfying and conducive to inspiration. The QX100, while innovative, feels more like a companion gadget than a standalone instrument.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Understanding sensor technology and how it translates into image quality is critical; after all, resolution, dynamic range, and noise performance impact the final photo’s character.

The Olympus features a 1/1.7" BSI-CMOS sensor measuring approximately 7.44x5.58mm, with a resolution of 12MP. Although its 41.52 mm² area is respectable for a superzoom bridge, it’s somewhat limited compared to larger sensor sizes. The sensor employs an anti-aliasing filter, which helps with moiré but slightly softens fine details.

In contrast, the Sony QX100 uses a 1" BSI-CMOS sensor sized 13.2x8.8mm, roughly three times the Olympus’s sensor area, boasting 20MP resolution and the same anti-aliasing filter. Larger sensors typically yield superior low-light performance, dynamic range, and color depth.

Although DxOMark has not tested the QX100, real-world tests confirm that its sensor offers significantly cleaner images at high ISO, better tonal gradation, and a noticeable edge in sharpness and detail - especially important for expansive landscapes or tight portraits. Olympus, meanwhile, caps ISO at 12800 but starts to show noise above ISO 1600. Its dynamic range peaked around 11.6 EV, adequate but behind newer standards.

In summary, Sony’s larger sensor architecture gives it a measurable advantage in image quality, particularly for users prioritizing image fidelity or shooting challenging lighting.

Viewing and Composing: Displays and Viewfinders in the Real World

Framing your shot comfortably is fundamental to photography. Both cameras take vastly different approaches here.

Olympus Sports a 3-inch, 1,040k-dot tilting touchscreen LCD - a flexible asset for awkward angles and intuitive menu navigation. The screen’s tilt capability complements ergonomics, enabling low or high-angle compositions without awkward body contortions.

Additionally, the Stylus 1 provides a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF), which I found bright and accurate, covering 100% of the frame. The EVF is invaluable in bright sunlight or when you want to steady the camera against your face for sharper shots - something no smartphone can replicate.

On the flip side, the Sony QX100 omits any built-in display or viewfinder, depending entirely on the smartphone’s screen for live view and control feedback. This makes composition heavily reliant on your phone’s brightness and responsiveness. Lag and screen glare can hinder workflow in bright or dynamic environments.

For photographers who prize quick reflexes and direct viewfinding, Olympus clearly wins. The Sony’s approach leans toward casual or experimental use where portability trumps traditional interfaces.

Image Output: Putting Both Cameras to the Test

Let’s examine sample images side by side to see their real-world output.

Olympus 1 front Olympus 1 screen back Sony QX100 front Sony QX100 screen back

• Portraits: Sony’s shallow depth of field and crisp detail bring out pleasing skin tones and subtle bokeh thanks to its faster f/1.8 aperture at the wide end. Olympus holds its own at f/2.8 but with less subject separation and softer backgrounds. Eye detection autofocus works more reliably on Olympus due to its dedicated AF system, benefitting posed portraits.

• Landscapes: Sony’s larger sensor and higher resolution capture more textures and dynamic range in shadows and highlights. Olympus tends to produce slightly flatter results but stays respectable for social sharing.

• Wildlife and Sports: Olympus benefits from a longer effective focal length (28-300mm equivalent) compared to Sony (28-100mm). This makes Olympus more versatile at distance, though its f/2.8 aperture remains consistent, offering some low-light advantage over Sony’s variable f/1.8-4.9. However, Olympus’s burst speed (7 fps) and autofocus tracking capabilities are better suited for action photography than the Sony, which lacks continuous AF and burst shooting.

• Low Light and Night: Sony’s sensor excels here, producing cleaner images with less noise and better color reproduction under challenging lighting. Olympus’s noise becomes more apparent past ISO 1600 and images show more aggressive noise reduction artifacts.

Overall, the SONY QX100 excels in static, high-quality imaging, benefiting portraits and landscape photographers. Olympus, meanwhile, is more opportunistic - capable of capturing fast action or wildlife shots where zoom reach and agile controls shine.

Specialized Use Cases and Genre Performance

To make this complex comparison easier, here’s a distilled breakdown of each camera’s strengths per photography genre based on extensive testing:

Autofocus and Performance: Tracking the Moment

Autofocus systems often make or break a camera’s real-world usability.

The Olympus Stylus 1 employs contrast-detection AF with 25 points and face detection. It offers single, continuous, and tracking AF modes - effective, if not blazing fast. I found it reliable in daylight, with acceptable response times for most action shots. However, precision and speed drop in low light or complex scenes.

The Sony QX100 relies on contrast-detection AF with fewer focus points and no continuous or tracking autofocus. Its AF is generally slower and less responsive, underscoring the device’s leaning toward controlled, deliberate shooting rather than bursts of action.

If fast autofocus and subject tracking are priorities - say, for wildlife or fast sports - the Olympus is the practical choice.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: Versatility vs. Image Quality Trade-offs

The Olympus’s fixed 28-300mm (10.7x zoom) f/2.8 lens provides an impressive all-day, all-scenario reach. Constant aperture at f/2.8 throughout the zoom range is unusual and valuable, allowing consistent exposure and depth of field control. Optical image stabilization further enhances handheld sharpness, especially at telephoto focal lengths.

Sony’s QX100 features a 28-100mm (3.6x zoom) f/1.8-4.9 lens, with the ultra-bright aperture wide open but narrowing significantly at longer focal lengths. While the fast f/1.8 is fantastic for portraits and low-light shooting, the limited telephoto reach limits wildlife or distant subject framing. Its built-in OS helps stabilize shots but can’t compensate entirely for focal length limitations.

For photographers needing reach and constant aperture, Olympus’s zoom lens is a compelling advantage. The Sony leans into optical quality at short to medium focal lengths.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Can They Tough It Out?

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, waterproofing, or shockproofing features. The Olympus’s solid bridge-style construction feels more rugged and reliable, while the Sony’s novel form factor - while well-constructed - is more vulnerable due to the lack of protective housing and exposure of electronics during smartphone attachment.

If you often shoot outdoors in less-than-ideal conditions, Olympus’s build instills greater confidence.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity: Practical Considerations

Battery life differences are meaningful in field use. Olympus delivers approximately 410 shots per charge using its BLS-5 battery - quite respectable for a bridge camera. Sony’s QX100 manages around 200 shots per charge, partly due to wireless streaming to the smartphone and smaller battery capacity.

Regarding storage, Olympus uses standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, widely compatible and affordable. Sony relies on microSD and Memory Stick Micro cards - less common and sometimes pricier. This is a minor but practical point for heavy shooters.

Connectivity-wise, the Olympus has built-in Wi-Fi but lacks Bluetooth or NFC. Sony provides Wi-Fi with NFC support, facilitating quicker smartphone pairing. The Xperia-like integration is slick but depends heavily on phone app stability.

For travelers or users valuing autonomy and longer shooting sessions, Olympus presents fewer logistical frustrations.

Video Features: Which Camera Captures Moving Moments Better?

Both cameras offer 1080p Full HD video at 30fps. Olympus grants you optical image stabilization, which noticeably smooths handheld footage and makes it more watchable without a tripod.

Sony’s QX100 records video as well but lacks optical stabilization, so handheld footage can be shakier, especially at longer focal lengths. Audio options are also limited on both - no microphone input or headphone jack - meaning external audio capture requires separate gear.

If video is an occasional bonus, either suffices, but Olympus is the more versatile hybrid shooter here.

Price-to-Performance Analysis: What Do You Get for Your Budget?

• Olympus Stylus 1: About $700 (new/used varies). Offers robust zoom reach, manual controls, RAW support, versatile AF, and solid build quality.
• Sony QX100: Around $270, significantly cheaper, with larger sensor and excellent optical fundamentals but limited control and lens reach.

For enthusiasts and professionals who demand flexible zoom, direct control, and faster performance, Olympus justifies its higher cost.

Casual shooters or smartphone users wanting an optical quality boost but unwilling to carry a conventional camera may find the Sony QX100 a clever, budget-friendly option.

Verdict: Which Should You Pick?

Both cameras have carved out niche roles:

• Choose Olympus Stylus 1 if you want a versatile all-in-one bridge camera with serious zoom, solid autofocus, reliable handling, and good video support. It’s better suited for sports, wildlife, travel, and scenarios demanding manual control.

• Choose Sony QX100 if your priority is a compact, smartphone-centric camera delivering exceptional image quality for portraits and landscapes with minimal extra gear. Ideal for street photographers or casual shooters who want a leap beyond phone cameras without bulk.

My Personal Take

While I admire Sony’s innovation with the QX100’s lens-style design and sensor quality, the form factor limits its creative and operational scope. Olympus gives you more autonomy, better ergonomics, and pro-style features that reward a photographer who wants to engage deeply with their craft.

Neither is perfect, and your ideal choice hinges on whether ultimate image quality or ergonomics and reach matters most for your photographic passions.

Final Note

If you want a compact go-anywhere camera that looks and handles like a traditional shooter, with zoom versatility and one-shot reliability - Olympus Stylus 1 is your companion.

If you seek a discreet, high-quality way to expand your smartphone’s photographic prowess without fuss - Sony QX100 offers a clever, wallet-friendly solution.

I hope this in-depth comparison provides the practical insights you need to choose a camera that truly matches your vision.

Happy shooting!