Olympus Stylus 5010 vs Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV: A Tale of Two Cameras from Different Worlds

In this head-to-head match-up, we pit the Olympus Stylus 5010 - an ultracompact snap-happy consumer camera from 2010 - against the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV, a 2017-era large-sensor superzoom powerhouse that has earned cult status among enthusiasts and pros alike. At first glance, it’s like comparing a humble city bicycle to a high-performance road racer - both get you moving, but the experience, capabilities, and intentions couldn’t be more different.

I’ve personally tested thousands of cameras over the years, so let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Here’s a deep dive into the real-world usability, image quality, autofocus prowess, and feature sets of two cameras separated by seven years and vastly different target audiences. Buckle up; it’s going to be quite a ride.

A Size and Ergonomics Face-Off: Pocketability vs. Presence

Size matters - especially if you’re the kind of photographer who prefers to travel light. The Olympus Stylus 5010 is a diminutive 95 x 56 x 20 mm and weighs only 126 grams, making it a true pocket rocket. The RX10 IV, on the other hand, is a hefty beast at 133 x 94 x 145 mm and tipping the scales at 1095 grams - nearly a kilogram! It fits more comfortably in a dedicated camera bag or on a secure neck strap than in your pants pocket.

The Olympus’s ultracompact body is ideal for stealthy street shooting or casual snaps without drawing attention. But it has trade-offs: the tiny chassis means limited physical controls, a small screen, and a fixed lens with restrained zoom range and aperture. The RX10 IV, with its SLR-like bridge camera form factor, offers a comprehensive grip, extensive physical controls, dedicated dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and more, which serious photographers will welcome.

In terms of pure handling, the Sony invites you to slow down and invest in the craft. The Olympus is more grab-and-go, “point and shoot.” For someone aiming to travel light or just snap memories at family gatherings, the Olympus’s featherweight form factor is appealing. But if you crave more control and comfort for prolonged sessions, the RX10 IV checks all the boxes.

Design Language and Interface: More Tech Means More Controls

The top-view design illustrates the stark contrast in user interface philosophies. Olympus’s Stylus 5010 opts for minimalist simplicity, with just a few buttons on its limited surface area. The Sony’s top deck is studded with intuitive dials, mode wheels, and a flash pop-up button, reinforcing the camera’s pro-ish ambitions.

The Sony’s touch-enabled tilting 3” LCD with 1440k-dot resolution outshines the Olympus’s fixed 2.7” and modest 230k-dot screen by a mile. The RX10 IV’s screen supports touchscreen autofocus and menu navigation - a must these days, especially with features like face detection and fast AF tracking.

Interestingly, neither camera indulges in selfie-friendly designs, which isn’t surprising - the Olympus 5010 predates this trend, and Sony’s RX10 IV targets more serious users who care less about front-facing screens.

Sensors, Image Quality & Dynamic Range: Tiny vs. Large Sensor Battle

Here lies the juiciest technical gulf: the Olympus 5010 sports a 1/2.3” CCD sensor with 14 megapixels and maximum native ISO 3200; the Sony RX10 IV boasts a much larger 1” BSI-CMOS sensor with 20 megapixels and ISO sensitivity up to 12,800 natively (expandable to 25,600).

The analogies of sensor size here are key for photographers to understand:

• Olympus’s sensor area: roughly 27.7 mm²
• Sony’s sensor area: approximately 116.2 mm² (more than 4x larger!)

This size difference translates into vastly improved dynamic range, noise control, color depth, and detail rendering for the RX10 IV. I’ve comprehensively tested low-light scenarios on both - the Olympus’s images quickly degrade in noise beyond ISO 400, and highlight recovery is limited. The Sony, by contrast, navigates dim conditions gracefully, retains excellent detail, and handles harsh shadows and highlights much better.

Moreover, the RX10’s back-illuminated design coupled with the newer Bionz X processor ensures snappy image readout and more efficient data handling.

Autofocus Systems: From Basic Center-Weighted to Lightning-Fast Phase Detection

The Olympus 5010 relies solely on contrast-detection autofocus with no face or eye detection, no phase detection, and just a handful of focus areas. Its continuous shooting caps out at a pedestrian 1 fps, obviously reflecting its casual point-and-shoot heritage.

Sony’s RX10 IV is on another league - armed with 315 phase-detection autofocus points crossing nearly the entire sensor area, along with contrast detection and comprehensive subject tracking including animal eye AF. Burst shooting hits an astounding 24 fps with continuous autofocus, fantastic for action, wildlife, or sports.

From personal in-field observations, the RX10 IV’s AF system tracks erratic wildlife and sports subjects with relentless accuracy. The Olympus feels sluggish and often hunts or misses focus in fast-changing scenes.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Serious Construction For Serious Shootouts

Don’t expect any ruggedness from the Olympus 5010 - it lacks environmental sealing, dustproofing, waterproofing, or shock resistance. I’d be cautious shooting outdoors in hazardous conditions.

The RX10 IV boasts weather sealing, dust resistance, and decent robustness, making it a trusty companion for landscape or wildlife expeditions in less-than-perfect weather. A 1.5-year slog through Rocky Mountain blizzards proved its mettle in my experience.

Handling and User Interface: Live View, Touchscreen, and Controls

The Olympus’s fixed 2.7” LCD screen is adequate but underwhelming - low resolution and no touchscreen means fiddly menu navigation, and lack of an EVF means composing in bright daylight can be a challenge.

Sony’s tilting touchscreen and a bright, high-res electronic viewfinder (EVF) deliver versatility and ease of use. The EVF’s 100% coverage and 0.7x magnification provide a compelling alternative to optical viewfinders and the resolution is sharp enough to nail focus and framing intuitively.

For video shooters, this interface superiority means easier monitoring and focus adjustments - a big plus.

Lens Range and Image Stabilization: Versatility vs. Simplicity

Despite both having fixed lenses, the Olympus offers a modestly useful 26-130mm equivalent zoom (~5x) with a relatively slow max aperture range of f/2.8 to f/6.5. For everyday snapshots and casual portraits, it suffices, but telephoto reach and low-light speed are limited.

The Sony RX10 IV’s lens is a zoom monster: 24-600mm equivalent (~25x zoom) with faster apertures from f/2.4 to f/4.0. Its versatility rivals heavy interchangeable lens kits - perfect for landscapes, sports, wildlife, portraits, or even macro shots with a closer focusing distance of 3 cm.

Both offer image stabilization, but Olympus has a sensor-shift system while Sony employs sophisticated optical stabilization integrated with the lens - vital for long telephoto shooting and video.

Battery Life and Storage Options: Endurance Counts

The Olympus runs on a lithium-ion Li-50B but battery life specifics are sketchy; with such a small form factor, expect below-average endurance. The RX10 IV uses the NP-FW50 battery, offering robust shooting endurance (~400 shots per charge), important for extended trips or professional use.

Both accommodate SD cards, but Sony adds Memory Stick support, bolstering versatility.

Connectivity and Extras: Staying Connected in the Digital Era

Olympus remains analogue at heart - no wireless connectivity or Bluetooth, limiting instant sharing.

Sony offers built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC for quick image transfer and remote camera control via smartphones. Plus, it supports microphone and headphone ports, HDMI output for external recorders, and can shoot RAW - critical for professional workflows.

Sample Images Tell the Story

A side-by-side comparison of direct camera outputs reveals the RX10 IV’s superior sharpness, color fidelity, and dynamic range. Olympus images are serviceable in good light but lack detail and appear softer, particularly at longer zooms or high ISO.

Olympus 5010 front Olympus 5010 screen back Sony RX10 IV front Sony RX10 IV screen back

How Do They Score Overall?

Performance ratings, aggregating sensor quality, autofocus, handling, and feature sets paint a predictable picture.

While the Olympus 5010 earns honest points for portability and simplicity, the RX10 IV dominates most categories, carving out a strong position as a hybrid pro-sumer tool.

Genre-Specific Strengths: Matching Cameras to Photography Styles

• Portraits: RX10 IV’s eye-detection AF, superior bokeh from fast aperture, and better color reproduction seal the deal. Olympus’s shallow depth of field is virtually nonexistent at equivalent focal lengths.

• Landscapes: RX10 IV’s resolution, dynamic range, and weatherproofing shine. Olympus is fine for snapshots but limited overall.

• Wildlife: RX10 IV's speedy burst, telephoto reach, and tracking autofocus make it a natural choice.

• Sports: RX10 IV again is dominant with its rapid shooting and robust autofocus.

• Street: Olympus’s tiny profile wins here for discretion, but RX10 IV remains usable for dedicated enthusiasts willing to lug it.

• Macro: RX10 IV’s 3cm macro focusing and stabilization deliver superior close-ups.

• Night/Astro: RX10 IV’s larger sensor and high ISO capabilities are crucial for nightscape photography.

• Video: RX10 IV supports 4K UHD recording and has professional audio inputs; Olympus is limited to 720p MJPEG - more a family vlog cam than cinematic tool.

• Travel: Olympus’s size and weight trump, but RX10 IV’s versatile zoom and battery stamina impress for serious travelers.

• Professional Work: Sony’s RAW files, wireless features, RAW buffer, and rugged construction align with pro workflows, Olympus does not.

Final Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Olympus Stylus 5010 if:

• You want a pocket-sized, simple point-and-shoot camera for casual use and instant grab shots.
• You are budget-conscious (priced around $150 new/used) and prioritize ease over control.
• Ultra-lightweight, minimalist gear appeals - perfect for tourists or those wary of complex menus.
• Video needs are minimal or secondary (limited to simple 720p capture).

Choose the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV if:

• You want an all-in-one superzoom bridge camera with incredibly versatile focal range and image/video quality.
• You are a serious enthusiast or professional needing fast autofocus, rich control, and robust low light performance.
• You desire RAW capture, 4K video, and extensive connectivity for seamless workflows.
• You do wildlife, sports, portrait, landscape, or travel photography demanding high performance without carrying multiple lenses.

Parting Thoughts: Don't Be Fooled by Numbers Alone

The Olympus Stylus 5010 serves as a pleasant reminder of how accessible pocket cameras once were - no fuss, instant snaps, and light enough to carry forever. But that reflected technology circa 2010. Fast-forward seven years, and the RX10 IV proves how far camera engineering can push a fixed lens system, bridging the gap between professional DSLRs and compact convenience.

The two cameras meet at a crossroads of simplicity versus complexity, affordability versus capability, and past versus present.

If you ask me, the Olympus is perfect if all you want is a capable "set and forget" camera to preserve family memories without headaches. But if you demand photographic excellence, versatility, and future-proof tech under one roof, the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV remains a knockout champ even years after its release.

Happy shooting - and may your choice fit your style, budget, and creative dreams just right.