Olympus 8000 vs Sony HX50V

Choosing Between the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 and Sony Cyber-shot HX50V: A Hands-On Expert Comparison

When looking at compact cameras, especially those designed for enthusiasts who want versatility combined with solid image quality and ease of use, the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 and the Sony Cyber-shot HX50V present two very different takes on what a compact can offer. Both from reputable brands, yet built with unique priorities and intended users in mind.

Having put both through their paces in various conditions, I’ll walk you through a detailed comparison highlighting their real-world performance, technical underpinnings, strengths, weaknesses, and ultimately - help you decide which might suit your photography needs best.

A Tale of Two Cameras: Design, Handling, and Physical Presence

Right off the bat, these two cameras target different niches. The Olympus 8000 is a rugged, tough compact with weather resistance features, designed for those who value durability and want a pocketable yet resilient companion. The Sony HX50V, meanwhile, is a superzoom compact, maximizing optical reach within a slim but less rugged chassis.

Checking the body dimensions and weight, the Olympus 8000 measures 95x62x22 mm and weighs a mere 182 grams, making it truly pocket-friendly and tough as nails. Its smaller size is ideal if you need something that can handle inclement weather or minor knocks while hiking or outdoor adventures. The Sony HX50V is physically larger (108x64x38 mm) and heavier (272 grams), reflecting its superzoom lens and more complex electronics.

The ergonomics favor the Sony if you prioritize zoom versatility and manual control, thanks to its thoughtfully laid out controls and a solid grip. The Olympus, while compact and decent for everyday carry, trades some ergonomic comfort for ruggedness and simplicity. Neither camera has an articulated screen or touchscreen, which is something to keep in mind if you require more flexible live-view options.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensors, Big Differences

Both cameras employ sensors of the 1/2.3-inch type, which is common in compacts but quite small compared to interchangeable-lens systems. Yet, despite similar sensor sizes, their capabilities differ substantially.

The Olympus 8000 uses a 12-megapixel CCD sensor - older technology, typically known for good color reproduction but generally less capable at high ISO and dynamic range. On the other hand, the Sony HX50V sports a more modern 20-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, which enhances low light sensitivity and dynamic range performance.

In practical shooting, the difference is palpable. Sony delivers sharper images with more detail due to the higher resolution. Noise at ISO levels above 800 remains more manageable, whereas the Olympus’s images start showing grain and detail loss much earlier. For landscapes or any scenario demanding wide dynamic range, Sony pulls ahead with improved highlight retention and shadow detail, helping you squeeze more from difficult lighting.

Exploring Lenses: Versatility vs. Specialized Durability

Lens apertures and zoom ranges directly affect how and what kind of photos you can take. The Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 has a 28-102mm equivalent zoom (3.6x) with a maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.1, while the Sony HX50V offers a staggering 24-720mm (30x) zoom at f/3.5-6.3.

That means the Sony has a huge advantage in reach, perfect for wildlife or sports photography where distance is a factor. You can capture faraway subjects without cropping or carrying a bulky zoom lens. However, the Olympus’s zoom range is more modest but sufficient for travel, portraits, and casual snaps, especially considering its macro capability down to 2cm, better than Sony’s 5cm.

Both lenses are fixed and non-interchangeable - standard for compact cameras. While the Sony’s slower aperture at the long end limits shallow depth of field, its zoom flexibility overshadows that for many users. Olympus, conversely, offers lens-based image stabilization through sensor-shift, assisting handheld shots to remain sharp at reasonable shutter speeds.

Screen and Viewfinder: Framing Your Shot

Displaying your image and navigating menus require a good screen and interface, and here's where user experience diverges.

The 2.7-inch, 230k-dot fixed screen on the Olympus 8000 is serviceable but feels cramped and less sharp by 2024 standards. Sony jumps right in with a 3-inch, 921k-dot XtraFine LCD display - bright, colorful, and crisp - making image review and live view framing much more pleasant.

Neither camera has a built-in viewfinder; the Sony optionally offers an electronic viewfinder accessory, while Olympus relies entirely on the rear LCD. For bright outdoor shooting, the Sony’s higher-resolution screen ensures less squinting and better composition under sunlight.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Tracking the Action

Autofocus ability is critical across most photography types, especially wildlife and sports. The Olympus 8000 provides contrast-detection autofocus without face detection or tracking. Sony’s HX50V has face detection plus continuous autofocus tracking, aiding in capturing moving subjects effectively.

The Olympus’s single-shot AF system is straightforward but slower and less reliable if your subject moves quickly. Sony’s camera supports burst shooting at 10fps, far better for sports, animals in motion, or decisive street photography moments. Olympus’s continuous shooting is effectively nonexistent.

Real-World Photographic Disciplines: Strengths and Weaknesses Explored

Portrait Photography

Skin tone rendition and bokeh are key in portraits. Both cameras have limited aperture ranges, restricting shallow depth of field effects. The Olympus’s 12MP CCD sensor produces natural colors, but its limited zoom means less flexibility composing tight headshots unless physically closer. Sony offers face detection autofocus, improving eye focus reliability.

However, bokeh is modest; expect backgrounds to remain fairly sharp unless shooting at the tele end with the Sony HX50V. For casual portraits in good light, both suffice but don’t expect DSLR-like rendering.

Landscape Photography

Resolutions of 12MP and 20MP both allow prints up to 13x19 inches comfortably, but Sony’s higher resolution and better dynamic range edge out the Olympus under tricky lighting. The Olympus’s rugged sealing is a bonus if you want to shoot landscapes in rough conditions (rain, dust), while Sony lacks environmental sealing.

Both cameras lack manual exposure bracketing but do offer multiple aspect ratios. The Olympus’s small sensor and lack of RAW format limit post-processing latitude. Sony’s CMOS sensor performs better here but RAW support is absent as well, a drawback if you want professional-grade editing flexibility.

Wildlife Photography

Sony HX50V is the clear choice with its 30x zoom and burst shooting. Sure, the aperture slows to f/6.3 at full zoom, but in daylight, it’s good enough to capture distant subjects. Olympus’s 3.6x zoom just won’t reach far enough, and it lacks continuous autofocus and burst shooting, making it unsuitable for fast wildlife.

Sports Photography

Neither camera is designed with fast sports shooting in mind, but Sony’s fast 10fps burst and face detection autofocus provide better odds of freezing decisive moments. Olympus doesn’t support continuous AF or burst shooting, so you’re left chasing shots with a slower camera.

Low light sports capture is hampered on both by small sensors, but Sony’s superior ISO performance helps a bit.

Street Photography

The smaller size and discretion of Olympus 8000 are attractive for street shooters - it’s lighter, less conspicuous, and rugged enough to walk-without-care. The Sony is bulkier due to its zoom lens but offers zoom reach for those ambush shots.

Both have silent shutter speeds limited; Olympus maxes at 1/2000 s, but with no silent shutter mode. Sony offers shutter speeds up to 1/4000 s and manual modes ideal for street shooters wanting creative control.

Macro Photography

Olympus excels here with a 2cm minimum focusing distance versus Sony’s 5cm - excellent for nature close-ups. Combined with sensor-shift image stabilization, it helps handheld macro sharpness. Sony is acceptable but less specialized here.

Night and Astro Photography

Low light performance favors Sony’s BSI-CMOS sensor and extended ISO range (up to 12800 boosted), although noise becomes visible in extreme settings. Olympus caps ISO at 1600 and struggles with noise early.

Neither camera offers dedicated long exposure or bulb modes essential for astrophotography. Olympus max shutter is 1/2000 s, Sony maxes at 30 seconds, helpful for night scenes.

Video Capabilities

Sony HX50V significantly outclasses Olympus:

• Full HD (1920x1080) recording at up to 60fps versus Olympus’s VGA 640x480 max.
• MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats (Sony) offer better compression and quality than Olympus’s Motion JPEG.
• HDMI output on Sony supports external displays; Olympus lacks.
• No microphone or headphone ports on either, limiting serious video work.

Sony’s optical stabilization aids smoother handheld video, making it more suitable for casual vlogging or travel clips, whereas Olympus’s video is strictly basic.

Travel Photography

For travel, the Olympus 8000 appeals with its small size, rugged build, and decent zoom for everyday scenes. Battery life specifics aren’t disclosed for Olympus but likely moderate given compact size and sensor.

Sony HX50V, though bigger and heavier, offers much more zoom versatility, GPS tagging (an excellent aid for travel photographers), and longer battery life (400 shots per charge) ideal for long days.

Professional Work Considerations

Both cameras won’t satisfy professional photographers needing RAW files, high ISO clean images, robust manual controls, or interchangeable lenses. Neither supports RAW shooting; both rely on JPEGs. However, Olympus’s environmental sealing adds confidence shooting in adverse conditions, whereas Sony offers more manual exposure modes and better white balance control.

Sony’s richer control options and better image quality make it marginally more suitable for pros needing a pocket superzoom backup, but both cameras are firmly aimed at consumers or enthusiasts.

Under the Hood: Build Quality, Connectivity, and Interface

Olympus impresses with shock, freeze, and dust protection - rare for compacts. The trade-off is simpler control layout with no manual dials; everything is menu or button-driven.

Sony sports a flexible manual mode, exposure compensation dial, and better menu ergonomics, but sacrifices ruggedness.

Both cards use common formats; Olympus uses xD or microSD, a more limited choice, while Sony accepts SD/SDHC/SDXC plus Memory Stick formats. Sony also supports built-in GPS for geotagging and basic wireless connectivity (though no Bluetooth or NFC), lacking in Olympus.

Battery-wise, Sony’s proprietary NP-BX1 battery claims ~400 shots. Olympus info is sparse but smaller size likely means shorter battery life.

Overall Performance Snapshot

Evaluations confirm Sony’s HX50V as the better all-rounder, excelling in image quality, zoom, video, and features, but Olympus 8000 shines in durability and outdoor resilience.

How They Stack Up Across Photography Types

Sony ranks higher in wildlife, sports, landscape, and video categories due to zoom, autofocus, and sensor tech. Olympus leads in outdoor/tough usage and macro.

Sample Images from Both Cameras

Olympus 8000 front Olympus 8000 screen back Sony HX50V front Sony HX50V screen back

Examining images side-by-side reveals Sony’s sharper details, better noise control, and more dynamic range. Olympus photos feel flatter but are still usable for casual use and share well on social platforms.

So, Which Camera Should You Pick?

• If you want a pocketable camera to accompany you on rugged hikes, outdoor adventures, or harsh environments, with solid macro capabilities and aren’t fussed by limited zoom or video, Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 is your go-to. It’s built to last and to survive conditions where others might not.

• If you prioritize image quality, zoom reach, versatile manual controls, better video, and want an all-around compact for travel, wildlife, sports, or street shooting, the Sony HX50V is the stronger option. Its modern sensor, powerful zoom, and richer feature set make it a versatile enthusiast camera.

Both cameras represent different eras and design philosophies, so your choice depends heavily on what you value most: rugged simplicity or optical and control versatility.

Wrapping Up

My experience reveals clear trade-offs: Olympus excels in toughness and simple reliability, ideal for rough conditions; Sony pushes zoom and image quality for enthusiasts craving more from a compact.

Neither camera will satisfy advanced professionals due to sensor limitations and lack of RAW, but both serve well for enthusiasts who desire either a dependable outdoor companion or a superzoom powerhouse.

Don’t forget to balance your budget (Olympus priced around $380, Sony around $440) against what features matter most to your shooting style.

Happy shooting!

If you want an even deeper dive or personalized advice on lenses and alternative cameras fitting your needs, just drop a comment - always glad to help!