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Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX1

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
31
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus 7040 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX1 Key Specs

Olympus 7040
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-196mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 144g - 95 x 56 x 26mm
  • Released January 2010
  • Alternative Name is mju 7040
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Revealed April 2009
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Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX1 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Olympus 7040 and Sony HX1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the 7040 (14MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the 7040 (1/2.3") and HX1 (1/2.4") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The 7040 was introduced 9 months later than the HX1 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus 7040 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the 7040 scores against the HX1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 7040 over the Sony HX1

 7040 HX1 
RevealedJanuary 2010April 2009More recent by 9 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus 7040

 HX1 7040 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus 7040 and Sony HX1

 7040 HX1 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus 7040 provides external dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 144 grams (0.32 lbs) while the Sony HX1 has proportions of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus 7040 and Sony HX1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the 7040 vs the HX1.

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 7040 and HX1 is 95 and 67 respectively.

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements simply by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the 7040 and HX1.

As you can see, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 7040 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus 7040 will give more detail using its extra 5MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The more modern 7040 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 7040 Portrait photography info
Sony HX1 Portrait photography info
28
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
27
manual focus
can't use external flash
low megapixels (9MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus 7040 Street photography info
Sony HX1 Street photography info
57
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
50
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (544 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 7040 Sports photography information
Sony HX1 Sports photography information
39
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
36
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 7040 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Travel photography camera
65
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
48
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (544 grams)
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 7040 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Landscape photography camera
42
reasonably wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
39
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 7040 Vlogging information
Sony HX1 Vlogging information
29
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
22
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1440 x 1080 pixels)
missing external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (544g)
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Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 7040 and Sony HX1
 Olympus Stylus 7040Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus 7040 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Otherwise known as mju 7040 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-01-07 2009-04-22
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 9MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 64 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-196mm (7.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus range 2cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.70 m 9.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1440x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 144g (0.32 lb) 544g (1.20 lb)
Dimensions 95 x 56 x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
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 model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SC/SDHC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $299 $47,999