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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony WX5

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
29
Overall
32

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony WX5 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
  • Released August 2012
  • Superseded the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Successor is Olympus SP-820UZ
Sony WX5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
  • Introduced July 2010
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony WX5 Overview

The following is a extended review of the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Sony WX5, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the WX5 (12MP) is pretty close and both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SP-820UZ was announced 2 years after the WX5 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the SP-820UZ scores vs the WX5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Sony WX5

 SP-820UZ WX5 
IntroducedAugust 2012July 2010Newer by 26 months
Screen dimensions3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Sony WX5 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 WX5 SP-820UZ 
Screen resolution461k460kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Sony WX5

 SP-820UZ WX5 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony WX5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor in 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") and a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) and the Sony WX5 has dimensions of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Sony WX5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the SP-820UZ versus the WX5.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony WX5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-820UZ and WX5 is 69 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony WX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony WX5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions simply by researching specs. The image below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-820UZ and WX5.

All in all, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Olympus SP-820UZ to render more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The more modern SP-820UZ will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony WX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony WX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony WX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography details
Sony WX5 Portrait photography details
34
resolution is good (14MP)
has face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography details
Sony WX5 Street photography details
37
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competition in class (485g)
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Sports photography with Sony WX5
33
great zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography features
Sony WX5 Travel photography features
55
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (22mm)
very long reach (896mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (485g)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
58
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography information
Sony WX5 Landscape photography information
35
decently wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
37
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (2.8")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging factors
Sony WX5 Vlogging factors
25
decently wide (22mm)
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (485 grams)
32
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic support
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony WX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Sony WX5
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-08-21 2010-07-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 22-896mm (40.7x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.8 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 15.00 m 5.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 485 gr (1.07 lbs) 146 gr (0.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9")
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
Battery ID - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $299 $250