Olympus SH-1 vs Sony HX9V

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus SH-1 and Sony HX9V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SH-1 (16MP) and the HX9V (16MP) is fairly comparable and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SH-1 was introduced 2 years later than the HX9V and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick summation of how the SH-1 grades versus the HX9V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus SH-1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V. The whole galleries are available at Olympus SH-1 Gallery and Sony HX9V Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SH-1 features outside dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Sony HX9V has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SH-1 and Sony HX9V in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the SH-1 and the HX9V.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-1 and HX9V is 88 and 91 respectively.

Often, it is very hard to envision the gap in sensor sizing just by checking out specs. The graphic below might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-1 and HX9V.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact resolution so you should expect comparable quality of photos but you will want to take the release date of the cameras into account. The younger SH-1 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.