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Olympus VR-330 vs Sony HX1

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37
Olympus VR-330 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony HX1 Key Specs

Olympus VR-330
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus VR-320
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Revealed April 2009
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Olympus VR-330 vs Sony HX1 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus VR-330 versus Sony HX1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the VR-330 (14MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the VR-330 (1/2.3") and HX1 (1/2.4") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The VR-330 was introduced 22 months after the HX1 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus VR-330 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the VR-330 matches up vs the HX1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-330 over the Sony HX1

 VR-330 HX1 
RevealedFebruary 2011April 2009More modern by 22 months
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus VR-330

 HX1 VR-330 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus VR-330 and Sony HX1

 VR-330 HX1 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus VR-330 enjoys external dimensions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Sony HX1 has proportions of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VR-330 versus Sony HX1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the VR-330 versus the HX1.

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the VR-330 and HX1 is 94 and 67 respectively.

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to envision the difference between sensor sizes only by reading specs. The pic underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the VR-330 and HX1.

All in all, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The VR-330 with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Olympus VR-330 will offer you greater detail using its extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures more aggressively. The more recent VR-330 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Portrait photography details
Sony HX1 Portrait photography details
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
features face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
27
focusing manually
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VR-330
Street photography with Sony HX1
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (158g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW format
heavier than competition (544g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-330 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Sports photography camera
47
great zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
36
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution low (9MP)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Travel photography info
Sony HX1 Travel photography info
70
lighter than competition (158 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (300mm)
does not have Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
48
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (544 grams)
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-330 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Landscape photography camera
42
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
39
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Vlogging features
Sony HX1 Vlogging features
32
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (158g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
22
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1440 x 1080 pixels)
missing mic support
heavier than competition (544 grams)
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Olympus VR-330 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-330 and Sony HX1
 Olympus VR-330Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus VR-330 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-02-08 2009-04-22
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 9 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-300mm (12.5x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 9.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1440x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 158 gr (0.35 lb) 544 gr (1.20 lb)
Physical dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 LI-42B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $220 $47,999