Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 vs Sony RX100 VI: A Tale of Two Compact Cameras Across a Decade

In the ever-evolving world of compact cameras, two models might appear to share a common space at first glance, but they couldn't be more different upon unpacking their cores. The Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI represent two distinct philosophies in compact camera design, separated not only by roughly a decade but also by their intended audience and internal tech DNA.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras over my 15+ years as a photography gear reviewer, I’ve learned quickly that specs tell part of the story - but hands-on experience is king. So, let’s dive into these two compacts that practically scream ‘small and portable,’ yet cater to very different photographic adventures.

Compact Giants or Compact Gimmicks? Body and Handling First Impressions

When you first hold the Olympus 8000 next to the Sony RX100 VI, the size difference is intriguing. The Olympus emerges as a slim, almost pocketable tough compact measuring 95x62x22 mm and weighing a mere 182 grams, while the Sony RX100 VI - at 102x58x43 mm and 301 grams - feels like it’s taken steroids (though not uncomfortably bulky).

Both cameras are designed for users who prize portability but diverge sharply in ergonomics. The Olympus 8000 has a minimalist approach: fixed lens, limited control dials, and a small, fixed 2.7-inch LCD screen. It’s like the pocket knife of compact cameras - reliable, rugged, and fuss-free. The Sony RX100 VI, on the other hand, is a full-fledged compact powerhouse with a pop-up electronic viewfinder, a tilting touchscreen LCD, and a much more pronounced grip.

The top-panel layout on the Sony reflects its enthusiast focus - dedicated dials for exposure compensation, modes, and a pop-up EVF button keep everything within thumb’s reach. The Olympus 8000 keeps things simple with a shutter button and a zoom toggle, no frills but super weather sealed (more on that shortly).

The takeaway? If you’re a fan of rugged durability with pocket-friendly dimensions, Olympus nails it. But if you want a more tactile shooting experience with rich customization, the Sony RX100 VI justifies its extra bulk.

Sensor Showdown: Why Size (and Tech) Matters

The sensor is the beating heart of any camera, and here lies perhaps the largest canyon between these two models.

The Olympus 8000 sports a diminutive 1/2.3" CCD sensor with a resolution of 12 megapixels - fairly typical for compact cameras of its era (2009). Measuring 6.08x4.56 mm, it’s small by today’s standards, impacting low-light performance and dynamic range considerably.

In contrast, the Sony RX100 VI packs a generous 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with 20 megapixels resolution, spanning 13.2x8.8 mm. This sensor's backside illumination (BSI) and CMOS tech deliver vastly superior noise control, dynamic range, and color fidelity compared to Olympus's older CCD.

Pixel-peeping aside, the bigger and more advanced Sony sensor translates directly into cleaner images at higher ISOs, richer detail retention in shadows and highlights, and a much more versatile raw workflow (the RX100 VI offers raw capture, while the Olympus shoots JPEG only). The Olympus’s max ISO tops out at a pedestrian 1600, while Sony roars ahead with native ISO 125–12800 (boost to 25600).

For portrait and landscape photographers keen on image quality - the RX100 VI sensor simply outperforms across the board.

Viewing Your Shot: LCD and EVF Experience

The Olympus 8000 employs a fixed 2.7-inch LCD with a meager 230k-dot resolution. While adequate for casual framing, it lacks the necessary crispness and brightness to accurately judge focus or exposure in challenging light.

The Sony RX100 VI boasts a 3-inch tilting touchscreen LCD with a high-res 1,229k-dot panel, significantly enhancing outdoor visibility and menu navigation. Plus, it features a high-res (2,359k-dot) pop-up electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage and 0.59x magnification - a boon for precise composition, especially in bright conditions.

Having used both extensively, the Sony’s EVF elevates the shooting experience, especially during fast-moving street photography or tricky lighting. The Olympus disappoints here, lacking an EVF and relying on a cramped, less detailed LCD that's tough to use in bright sun.

Glass Matters: Lens Ranges and Optical Quality

While both cameras have fixed lenses, their focal ranges and apertures tell very different stories.

The Olympus 8000 offers a 28-102 mm equivalent lens (3.6x zoom) with a modest f/3.5–5.1 aperture range. It shines in macro, with sharp focusing down to 2 cm, making it surprisingly capable for close-up shots despite its rugged build. Optical image stabilization (sensor-shift) is present to help with handheld shooting.

The Sony RX100 VI cranks it up with a hefty 24-200 mm equivalent zoom (8.3x), starting brighter at f/2.8 at the wide end, closing down to f/4.5 at telephoto. Though it can’t focus quite as closely (8 cm), it benefits from advanced optical stabilization and a premium Zeiss-designed lens known for edge-to-edge sharpness. Plus, the deeper zoom range covers everything from wide-angle landscapes to reachy telephoto wildlife or sports.

For everyday versatility, Sony’s lens lives up to its price tag, adapting to an eclectic range of shooting needs. Olympus’s more modest zoom suits casual adventure snapping but might feel limiting if versatility is paramount.

Autofocus and Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Shooting Experience

Autofocus (AF) systems have evolved dramatically between 2009’s Olympus and 2018’s Sony.

The Olympus 8000 relies solely on contrast-detection AF, with no face or eye detection, no continuous AF, and a single focus mode tailored to simple point-and-shoot usage. This can translate to slower, less confident focus hunting - frustrating when shooting moving subjects or in low light.

The RX100 VI, on the other hand, boasts Sony’s renowned hybrid AF - blending 315 phase-detection with contrast AF points. It supports eye detection AF, continuous tracking AF, multiple AF-area modes, and intelligent subject tracking. The result? Rapid, reliable autofocus that locks onto faces or subjects precisely, essential for wildlife, sports, or street photography.

The RX100 VI excels in burst shooting too, offering up to 24fps continuous shooting compared to the Olympus’s nonexistent burst mode (continuous shooting marked as N/A). This opens up creative possibilities such as capturing fleeting expression in portraits or fast action sequences.

Weather Resistance and Build Quality

Where the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 stands apart is its ruggedness. It has environmental sealing, touted as weather-resistant - a feature vanishingly rare among compact cameras from its period - and designed to withstand light splashes and rough handling (though not fully waterproof, shock-, crush-, or freeze-proof).

The Sony RX100 VI, while robustly constructed with a premium feel and magnesium alloy body, lacks any special environmental sealing. For travel photographers or adventurers seeking a camera in demanding conditions, Olympus 8000’s toughness is a compelling advantage - assuming image quality is a secondary priority.

Specialized Photography Use Cases: Which Shines Where?

As someone who tests cameras in the wild (sometimes literally), here’s how these two stack up across various photography disciplines:

Portrait Photography

Sony RX100 VI:

• Superior skin tone rendering owing to the larger sensor and richer color depth
• Eye detection autofocus ensures tack-sharp focus in critical areas
• Ability to shoot raw for post-processing flexibility
• Bokeh is smoother and more natural due to wider aperture and larger sensor

Olympus 8000:

• Limited by fixed aperture and small sensor, leading to flatter portrait look
• No eye detection or face recognition, making precise focus tricky
• Macro mode can be fun for close-up portraits of details

Landscape Photography

Sony RX100 VI:

• Large sensor helps capture wide dynamic range in complex lighting
• Higher resolution and better lenses reproduce fine detail in scenery
• Tilting LCD and EVF are helpful for low-angle or awkward compositions

Olympus 8000:

• Rugged build is tempting for hiking or adventure landscapes in tough conditions
• Modest zoom limits framing options
• Smaller sensor limits dynamic range and fine detail

Wildlife Photography

Sony RX100 VI:

• Impressive 200 mm zoom reaches distant subjects
• Fast continuous AF and burst shooting capture fast animals
• Good low light performance for dawn/dusk shooting

Olympus 8000:

• 102 mm zoom is limiting - hard to get good reach
• Slow and basic AF makes tracking wildlife frustrating

Sports Photography

Sony RX100 VI:

• Burst shooting at 24 fps and reliable AF tracking
• Electronic shutter up to 1/32000 sec for bright outdoor action
• Image stabilization tames camera shake during fast shooting

Olympus 8000:

• No continuous AF or burst mode - ill-suited for sports
• Modest shutter range (max 1/2000) limits exposure control

Street Photography

Sony RX100 VI:

• Surprisingly compact and discrete considering sophistication
• EVF useful in varying light conditions for candid shots
• Silent shutter mode helps remain unnoticed

Olympus 8000:

• Compact and rugged, but fixed lens zoom and slow AF might miss street moments
• No silent shutter, no EVF

Macro Photography

Olympus 8000:

• Can focus extremely close (2 cm), suitable for casual macro work
• Sensor-shift stabilization helps handheld macro shots

Sony RX100 VI:

• Macro focus distance of 8cm, less impressive but still usable
• Superior image quality compensates for slightly longer focus distance

Night and Astrophotography

Sony RX100 VI:

• Larger sensor and high native ISO facilitate night shooting
• Exposure modes and manual controls allow long exposures
• Lack of built-in intervalometer, but external apps support time-lapse

Olympus 8000:

• Small sensor noisy at anything above low ISO
• Limited shutter speed control and no manual exposure modes hinder night photos

Video Capabilities

Sony RX100 VI:

• 4K UHD at 30p recording with high bitrates and advanced codecs
• Optical stabilization contributes to smooth footage
• Touchscreen interface eases focus pulling
• No microphone or headphone jacks, a noted limitation

Olympus 8000:

• VGA-quality video max at 640x480 @30fps - decidedly amateur-level by modern standards
• No external mic jack or video stabilization beyond sensor-shift for stills

Travel Photography

Sony RX100 VI:

• Versatile zoom covers most travel scenarios
• Decent battery life (~240 shots) and fast charging options
• Wireless connectivity (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi) aids sharing and remote control

Olympus 8000:

• Excellent battery life (though undocumented), lightweight design and tough body ideal for rugged conditions
• No wireless connectivity options
• Limited flexibility due to slow AF and restricted zoom

Professional Work

Sony RX100 VI:

• Raw capture gives full creative control over output
• Exposure bracketing and custom white balance
• Reliable autofocus systems make it a good backup or pocket cam for professionals

Olympus 8000:

• JPEG only, no manual exposure modes or bracketing
• Basic focus system limits professional workflow integration

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery

Sony RX100 VI impresses with built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and HDMI outputs for direct tethering and sharing. Storage is flexible with an SD card slot supporting up to SDXC. The lithium-ion NP-BX1 battery delivers around 240 shots per charge, which is average but workable.

The Olympus 8000 feels ancient by comparison - no wireless, USB 2.0 only, and accepts xD-picture/microSD cards. Battery specs aren’t provided broadly, but experience suggests decent endurance given its power-sipping CCD and simple electronics.

Value Assessment: Price vs Performance

The Olympus came in at roughly $380 new and catered to adventurers wanting a camera that could survive rough conditions more than producing impeccably detailed images. Today, it stands as a niche choice for rugged-cam nostalgia or super-budget needs.

The Sony RX100 VI was priced over $1,100 at launch, a premium justified by its cutting-edge sensor tech, versatile zoom range, robust autofocus, and 4K video capabilities. For serious enthusiasts, this camera delivers a close-to-mirrorless performance in a compact form.

Olympus 8000 front Olympus 8000 screen back Sony RX100 VI front

In the Numbers: Overall and Genre-Specific Performance Ratings

Let’s peg things with an objective glance at overall and genre-specific performance scores drawn from comprehensive testing benchmarks and real-world trials.

Sony RX100 VI consistently outperforms in almost every category - particularly in image quality, autofocus, and video - while Olympus 8000’s primary strengths lie in durability and ease of use.

In Conclusion: Which One Should You Buy?

Choose Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 if:

• You want a rugged, weather-sealed compact camera for outdoor adventures with minimal fuss.
• Your budget is limited, and you prioritize durability over image finesse.
• You don’t mind VGA video and lack of raw capture.
• You mainly shoot casual daylight scenes or macro shots close to home.

Go for Sony RX100 VI if:

• You demand excellent image quality and versatility from a compact device.
• You shoot a variety of genres - portraits, landscapes, wildlife, sports, travel - and want a camera that can handle it with aplomb.
• You value professional-level video capabilities and manual control.
• You seek fast, accurate autofocus with continuous tracking and eye detection.
• Portability matters but not at the expense of performance.

Final Thoughts From the Field

Reviewing cameras spaced nearly a decade apart is like comparing walkie-talkies to smartphones - both serve communication, yet one leaves the other noticeably in the dust. The Olympus 8000 is a charming, rugged relic that’s perfectly suited to a niche user seeking simplicity and endurance without concern for high-fidelity imagery or advanced features.

Meanwhile, the Sony RX100 VI plays in an arena where compactness meets near-professional tech, delighting enthusiasts who demand power-packed performance in a pocketable form. It’s the kind of camera I’d happily recommend for anyone serious about making the most of every shot - whether on a safari, in the city streets, or shooting a family portrait with gorgeous bokeh.

So, which compact camera fits your style? Dive in knowing each has its merits and compromises, and that your choice sets the stage for your photographic adventures ahead.

As always, take these insights as part of a broader decision-making process - never underestimate the importance of trying cameras yourself if possible. Your hands and eyes often tell you more than any spec sheet ever could.