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Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
31
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus 7040 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Olympus 7040
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Also Known as mju 7040
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX10V
  • Updated by Sony HX30V
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Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Here, we will be matching up the Olympus 7040 versus Sony HX20V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the 7040 (14MP) and HX20V (18MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The 7040 was introduced 3 years earlier than the HX20V which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the 7040 matches up against the HX20V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 7040 over the Sony HX20V

 7040 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus 7040

 HX20V 7040 
IntroducedJuly 2012January 2010More modern by 30 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus 7040 and Sony HX20V

 7040 HX20V 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus 7040 provides external measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 144 grams (0.32 lbs) whilst the Sony HX20V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

See the Olympus 7040 versus Sony HX20V in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the 7040 vs the HX20V.

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 7040 and HX20V is 95 and 90 respectively.

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading through specifications. The image here will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the 7040 and HX20V.

Plainly, both cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can expect the Sony HX20V to resolve greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged 7040 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 7040 Portrait photography features
Sony HX20V Portrait photography features
28
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
45
you can focus manually
good resolution (18MP)
includes face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus 7040 Street photography advice
Sony HX20V Street photography advice
57
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 7040 Sports photography features
Sony HX20V Sports photography features
39
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
includes tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus 7040
Travel photography with Sony HX20V
65
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
no Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competition (254 grams)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 7040 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Landscape photography camera
42
really wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse recording
50
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 7040 Vlogging info
Sony HX20V Vlogging info
29
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone jack
34
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (254g)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 7040 and Sony HX20V
 Olympus Stylus 7040Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus 7040 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Alternative name mju 7040 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-01-07 2012-07-20
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-196mm (7.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range 2cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.70 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 144 grams (0.32 lbs) 254 grams (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 95 x 56 x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 320 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SC/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $299 $397