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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony A700

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 front
Portability
58
Imaging
51
Features
58
Overall
53

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony A700 Key Specs

Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Succeeded the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-820UZ
Sony A700
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 768g - 142 x 105 x 80mm
  • Revealed December 2007
  • Succeeded the Konica Minolta 7D
  • Updated by Sony A77
Photography Glossary

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony A700 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus SP-820UZ and Sony A700, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the A700 (12MP) is fairly similar but the SP-820UZ (1/2.3") and A700 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The SP-820UZ was unveiled 4 years later than the A700 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Sony A700 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a simple view of how the SP-820UZ matches up versus the A700 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Sony A700

 SP-820UZ A700 
RevealedAugust 2012December 2007Fresher by 57 months

Reasons to pick Sony A700 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 A700 SP-820UZ 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Sony A700

 SP-820UZ A700 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony A700 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-820UZ has external dimensions of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) and the Sony A700 has dimensions of 142mm x 105mm x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1") having a weight of 768 grams (1.69 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-820UZ and Sony A700 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the SP-820UZ against the A700.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony A700 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-820UZ and A700 is 69 and 58 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony A700 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony A700 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual here may give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-820UZ and A700.

As you can see, the 2 cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SP-820UZ having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF harder and the Olympus SP-820UZ will offer you greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The more modern SP-820UZ should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony A700 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony A700 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony A700 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Portrait photography with Sony A700
34
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
54
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography features
Sony A700 Street photography features
37
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
heavier than competitors in class (485 grams)
64
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography info
Sony A700 Sports photography info
33
incredible zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
good megapixels (14MP)
low fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
56
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
max fps low (5.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography highlights
Sony A700 Travel photography highlights
55
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (22mm)
great zoom (896mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (485g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
49
weather sealing
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography information
Sony A700 Landscape photography information
35
quite wide (22mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
62
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
does not have liveview
MP count low (12MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging details
Sony A700 Vlogging details
25
quite wide (22mm)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
no external mic support
heavier than competitors in class (485 grams)
9
no video
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony A700 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Sony A700
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZSony Alpha DSLR-A700
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-08-21 2007-12-19
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 22-896mm (40.7x) -
Max aperture f/3.4-5.7 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.6x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 15.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, rear curtain, Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 485 gr (1.07 lbs) 768 gr (1.69 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 142 x 105 x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.9
DXO Low light score not tested 581
Other
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 Dual
Retail price $299 $1,000