Olympus 7040 vs Sony HX99

Lets look closer at the Olympus 7040 and Sony HX99, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the 7040 (14MP) and HX99 (18MP) and the 7040 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 7040 was launched 9 years earlier than the HX99 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the 7040 grades versus the HX99 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus 7040 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus 7040 Gallery and Sony HX99 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 7040 has external measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 144 grams (0.32 lbs) whilst the Sony HX99 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

Check the Olympus 7040 and Sony HX99 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the 7040 against the HX99.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 7040 and HX99 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be hard to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements purely by looking through specifications. The graphic underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the 7040 and HX99.

To sum up, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 7040 due to its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony HX99 will render more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos way more aggressively. The older 7040 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.