Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony RX10 II

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus SP-820UZ and Sony RX10 II, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and RX10 II (20MP) and the SP-820UZ (1/2.3") and RX10 II (1") come with different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The SP-820UZ was released 3 years prior to the RX10 II which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Sony RX10 II being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summary of how the SP-820UZ scores versus the RX10 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus SP-820UZ Gallery and Sony RX10 II Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-820UZ provides external measurements of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) and the Sony RX10 II has measurements of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") with a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

See the Olympus SP-820UZ and Sony RX10 II in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the SP-820UZ vs the RX10 II.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-820UZ and RX10 II is 69 and 58 respectively.

Generally, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes just by going over a spec sheet. The picture underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-820UZ and RX10 II.

Clearly, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SP-820UZ due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Sony RX10 II will offer extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged SP-820UZ is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.