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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony HX300

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Launched August 2012
  • Older Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-820UZ
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Introduced February 2013
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX200V
  • Successor is Sony HX400V
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony HX300 Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Olympus SP-820UZ and Sony HX300, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and HX300 (20MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SP-820UZ was released 6 months before the HX300 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SP-820UZ grades vs the HX300 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Sony HX300

 SP-820UZ HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 HX300 SP-820UZ 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Sony HX300

 SP-820UZ HX300 
IntroducedAugust 2012February 2013Similar age
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SP-820UZ has physical dimensions of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) whilst the Sony HX300 has specifications of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-820UZ and Sony HX300 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the SP-820UZ compared to the HX300.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-820UZ and HX300 is 69 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements just by reading through specifications. The graphic underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-820UZ and HX300.

To sum up, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Sony HX300 to resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures more aggressively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography factors
Sony HX300 Portrait photography factors
34
decent MP (14MP)
has face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
42
you can focus manually
MP count decent (20MP)
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Street photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Street photography camera
37
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than others in class (485 grams)
50
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than others (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography advice
Sony HX300 Sports photography advice
33
incredible zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
decent MP (14MP)
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
55
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography information
Sony HX300 Travel photography information
55
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (22mm)
great reach (896mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (485 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
54
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than others (623g)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography info
Sony HX300 Landscape photography info
35
reasonably wide (22mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
48
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-820UZ
Vlogging with Sony HX300
25
reasonably wide (22mm)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic support
heavier than others in class (485 grams)
25
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
more heavy than others (623g)
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Sony HX300
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-08-21 2013-02-20
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 22-896mm (40.7x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 15.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 485 grams (1.07 lb) 623 grams (1.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $299 $339