Olympus SP-100 vs Sony WX500

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus SP-100 versus Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SP-100 (16MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SP-100 was introduced 14 months prior to the WX500 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the SP-100 scores versus the WX500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus SP-100 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-100 Gallery and Sony WX500 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-100 has got external dimensions of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") along with a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs) and the Sony WX500 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-100 versus Sony WX500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the SP-100 vs the WX500.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SP-100 and WX500 is 63 and 91 respectively.

Generally, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes only by reading through a spec sheet. The picture below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-100 and WX500.

As you can see, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Sony WX500 to give you greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged SP-100 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.