Olympus VR-340 vs Sony Cyber-shot TX20: A Hands-On Comparison of Compact 2012 Cameras

In the realm of compact cameras circa early 2012, two models stand out for their mix of portability, imaging ambitions, and feature sets: Olympus’s VR-340 and Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-TX20. Both aimed at enthusiasts seeking a pocketable companion without diving into the complexity or bulk of advanced compacts or mirrorless systems. Yet, beneath the surface, their philosophies diverged - Olympus leaned into superzoom versatility, while Sony focused on ultra-compact design and in-camera sophistication.

Having tested both extensively in a broad range of photographic scenarios, from outdoor landscapes to indoor portraits and casual travel, it’s time to dissect how these two rivals stack up - not just on paper, but in pragmatic use. We’ll explore everything from sensor technology to ergonomics and autofocus prowess. Whether you prioritize image quality, handling, or feature richness, this comparison delivers the clarity you need. Let’s jump in.

Handling and Ergonomics: Size, Feel, and Control

At first glance, the Olympus VR-340 and Sony TX20 seem destined for different grips. The Olympus pitches itself as a modestly sized compact with serious zoom ambitions, while the Sony is an ultra-compact hybrid, smoothly streamlined for pocketability.

Measuring roughly 96x57x19mm for the Olympus and 96x56x18mm for the Sony, they’re neck and neck dimensionally, but the Olympus feels slightly chunkier in hand - mostly due to its superzoom lens barrel extending further. The VR-340's heft (125g vs 133g for Sony) translates to a more reassuring grip, suitable for deliberate framing sessions without feeling fragile.

The Sony TX20 carves itself a niche with its sleek, minimalist aluminum body and curved front - it’s the kind of camera you can tuck into a jacket pocket unnoticed, a boon for street and travel shooters valuing discretion first. However, that compactness results in a smaller grip area; I found prolonged single-handed shooting less comfortable compared to Olympus, especially when zooming or stabilizing at long focal lengths.

Control-wise, both cameras eschew traditional dials for basic button layouts. The Olympus VR-340 favors simplicity with clearly marked, tactile buttons, but lacks illuminated controls, potentially a drawback in dim conditions. Sony counters with a touchscreen LCD - a feature that encourages direct interaction and quick navigation, enhancing usability, especially for those accustomed to smartphone-like interfaces.

From the top view, the Olympus sports a prominent zoom rocker and shutter button - ergonomically placed for natural index finger operation. Sony’s top controls are minimal; the shutter and power button are tiny and less snappy to press but maintain the TX20’s streamlined profile.

For photographers prioritizing classic ergonomics and more definitive tactile feedback, Olympus holds the edge. Sony’s design wins in portability and intuitive touchscreen use but demands adaptation in grip and control style.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Under the Hood

Both cameras employ the familiar 1/2.3-inch sensor size common to compacts of their era, resulting in nearly identical physical dimensions (6.17 x 4.55 mm sensor area). Yet, the essence of image quality lies deeper than size.

The Olympus VR-340 uses a traditional CCD sensor at 16 megapixels with an anti-alias filter, whereas the Sony TX20 opts for a 16MP backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor. This distinction is critical. BSI-CMOS technology reverses the layering of sensor components to allow more light-hitting photodiodes, improving sensitivity and noise performance, especially under low-light conditions.

During side-by-side shooting tests at ISO 3200 indoors and twilight scenes, the Sony’s BSI-CMOS showed noticeably cleaner images with less grain - a boon for wildlife or travel photographers frequently shooting handheld in challenging lighting. The Olympus’s CCD sensor produced images with slightly more noise and limited dynamic range, resulting in more clipped highlights and muddier shadows under the same conditions.

Both cameras share a maximum native ISO of 3200, but Sony’s sensor technology leverages better mid- to high-ISO detail retention, underlining the advantage of modern CMOS over CCD here.

In terms of resolution, their 16Mp sensors yield maximum image sizes of 4608x3456 pixels, sufficient for poster-sized prints or extensive cropping. The Olympus’s anti-alias filter does soften some fine detail ever so slightly compared to the Sony, which maintains crisper edges thanks to its BSI sensor coupled with Sony’s BIONZ processor.

For photographers prioritizing cleaner high ISO images or requiring greater dynamic range, Sony’s sensor array represents the superior choice.

Display and User Interface: Clarity and Interaction

The rear LCD acts as the photographer’s canvas for composing and reviewing shots, making screen quality crucial for confident shooting.

Olympus VR-340 sports a 3-inch fixed TFT Color LCD with 460K-dot resolution - adequate but underwhelming by 2012 standards. Details lack crispness, and color representation leans toward muted tones, diminishing quick evaluations of exposure and focus precision. Furthermore, there’s no touchscreen functionality, meaning navigation relies entirely on buttons.

Sony TX20’s rear display significantly improves on these marks with a 3-inch 922K-dot XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD. The black levels are deeper, brightness is superior, and the touchscreen interface smooths menus and image review navigation considerably. I found this especially helpful when shooting in sunlight; the Sony screen remained visible and responsive, while Olympus’s could feel washed out.

The Sony’s touchscreen autofocus point selection offers a meaningful workflow improvement for macro or portrait photography, where precise focusing - often difficult using buttons alone - is critical. Olympus’s lack of this feature feels dated when compared side-by-side.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Both cameras operate hybrid autofocus systems relying on contrast detection with face detection. Sony's BIONZ engine aids the TX20 in delivering snappier AF-lock speeds.

The Olympus VR-340 offers single and tracking autofocus modes, but its lack of continuous AF and limited AF point selection somewhat restricts responsiveness. Face detection in VR-340 works reasonably well under bright conditions but struggles in low light or when photographing moving subjects.

Conversely, Sony’s TX20 encompasses touch-enabled single AF, face detection with center-weighted metering, and selective AF point selection. This affords flexibility for framing compositions with off-center subjects. The TX20’s AF speed is perceptibly faster and more confident when locking on to faces or subjects in cluttered environments.

Olympus VR 340 front Olympus VR 340 screen back Sony TX20 front Sony TX20 screen back

For wildlife and sports where fast-moving subjects challenge focusing systems, neither camera excels as a pro-level tool, but Sony’s autofocus delivers the more satisfying experience thanks to faster acquisition and better subject tracking.

Zoom and Lens Capability: Reach vs Versatility

Arguably the most pronounced difference lies in their zoom ranges and lens character.

Olympus VR-340 boasts a remarkable 10x optical zoom equivalent to 24-240mm, a true superzoom offering expansive reach from wide-angle landscapes to decent telephoto shots useful for candids or wildlife glimpses. The maximum aperture varies from f/3.0 at wide end to f/5.7 telephoto, typical for superzooms in this tier.

Sony TX20’s lens covers a shorter 25-100mm (4x zoom), prioritizing sharpness and compactness over reach; the maximum aperture ranges from f/3.5 to f/4.6 - slightly slower but sufficient in ample light. The TX20 shines when it comes to close-ups, sporting an impressive 1cm macro focusing distance, ideal for flower or product photography.

Both cameras include sensor-shift or optical image stabilization. Olympus uses sensor-shift vibration reduction, beneficial for suppressing handshake at long zooms, while Sony employs optical stabilization within the lens assembly, making it more efficient at reducing blur across focal lengths.

For users needing extended reach for wildlife or travel photography, the Olympus has a clear upper hand with superzoom flexibility. For enthusiasts favoring close-focus macro and top-notch sharpness over extreme telephoto, Sony’s lens and pixel-level refinement win instead.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing, and Durability

Build quality can dictate how far a camera travels with you - from urban exploration to rugged hikes.

Though composed predominantly of plastic, the Olympus VR-340’s chassis feels sturdy and well assembled, but it lacks any environmental sealing - no waterproofing, dustproofing, or shock resistance is specified. This limits its reliability under harsh conditions or accidental bumps.

Sony TX20 goes a step further with partial weather sealing, offering protection against minor splashes and dust, which is unusual for ultracompacts of the time. This isn’t a full rugged camera like some contemporaries but adds peace of mind when shooting outdoors.

Neither camera meets tough freeze-proof or shockproof standards, but the Sony is the better option for travel photographers anticipating varied environmental exposures.

Performance Across Photography Genres

Let’s unpack how these cameras fare in key photography disciplines:

Portrait Photography

• Olympus VR-340: Faces are well detected and reasonably exposed, but skin tone rendition is somewhat muted due to CCD sensor limitations. Bokeh quality suffers at telephoto F5.7 aperture - background blur is present but not creamy. No eye-detection AF limits precision focusing.

• Sony TX20: Face and eye-detection AF works reliably, with softer, more natural skin tones courtesy of BSI-CMOS sensor and good white balance controls including custom WB. The lens, while shorter in zoom, provides adequate portrait framing. Bokeh is less pronounced due to smaller max aperture but more controlled.

Verdict: Sony offers better face detection and skin tone fidelity; Olympus provides longer reach at the cost of blur quality.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus: F3.0 wide aperture lets in good light, paired with superzoom for framing varying scenes. Dynamic range is average; highlights clip earlier, limiting HDR recovery. No raw support restricts post-processing latitude.

• Sony: BSI-CMOS gives better dynamic range and image sharpness; custom white balance aids in accurate color reproduction outdoors. Touchscreen facilitates easier manual focus. Weather sealing protects against elements in field shooting.

Verdict: Sony better suits landscapes where image quality and dynamic range are priorities; Olympus provides versatile framing options.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Neither camera is ideal pro sports tools, but:

• Olympus VR-340: Superzoom is appealing for distant wildlife shots, though autofocus lags on moving targets. Fixed lens zoom speed is slow. No manual focus control.

• Sony TX20: Faster autofocus tracking is an advantage for active subjects. Limited zoom hampers distant wildlife capture. Continuous shooting up to 10fps favors sports snapshotting.

Verdict: Olympus zoom advantage vs Sony AF and burst rate - pick depending on shooting priorities.

Street Photography

Sony’s ultracompact build, silent shooting, and touchscreen AF give it a stealth and responsive edge. Olympus is marginally bulkier and noisier, less discreet.

Macro Photography

Sony’s 1cm macro focusing beats Olympus’s no macro specification by a mile, allowing crisp flower and detail shots. Touch AF assists precision.

Night and Astro Photography

Sony’s CMOS and better high-ISO performance make it preferable in low light; Olympus’s CCD sensor produces more noise. Both lack raw shooting; limited shutter speed max to 4 seconds reduces astro potential.

Video Capabilities

• Olympus VR-340: 720p max resolution at 30fps, using Motion JPEG format, limiting compression efficiency and file size management.

• Sony TX20: 1080p Full HD at 60fps, encoder options include MPEG-4 and AVCHD, yielding higher quality, smoother footage.

No external mic or headphone ports on either; optical stabilization helps smooth handheld capture in Sony’s case.

Travel Photography

Sony TX20’s weather sealing, size, excellent battery life (~250 shots), and robust video support make it more travel friendly. Olympus VR-340 offers zoom versatility but shorter battery endurance and dials less suited to fast shooting.

Professional Considerations

Neither camera supports raw or tethering - key downsides for pro workflow integration. Images suffice for casual use or web publication but fall short for demanding editorial or print work.

Battery Performance and Storage

The Sony NP-BN battery achieves roughly 250 shots per charge, tested under typical usage - a comfortable margin for most day trips. Olympus’s battery life isn’t officially specified but generally underperforms in our side-by-side testing, requiring more frequent changes.

Both cameras feature single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slots. Sony adds compatibility with proprietary Memory Stick formats, broadening media choices.

Connectivity and Extras

Both cameras support Eye-Fi wireless card compatibility for effortless image transfer, but neither includes modern Bluetooth or NFC - unsurprising for their 2012 release period.

HDMI is present on both, enabling quick viewing on external monitors.

Pricing and Value Proposition

• Olympus VR-340: Around $130 at launch, emphasizing affordability and superzoom versatility.

• Sony TX20: Roughly $330, reflecting advanced sensor tech, touchscreen, and video capabilities.

Value depends on user priorities: Olympus offers zoom at a bargain; Sony packs features worth the premium.

Wrapping Up: Which Camera Fits Your Needs?

Deciding between the Olympus VR-340 and Sony TX20 boils down to your shooting style and priorities.

• Choose Olympus VR-340 if:

  • You need extended zoom reach for wildlife, travel, or versatile framing.
  • Budget constraints push you towards a superzoom at an accessible price.
  • You prefer traditional button controls and a substantial hand-feel.
  • High-resolution video is not a priority.

• Pick Sony TX20 if:

  • You want superior image quality with better ISO performance.
  • You prioritize portability, weather resistance, and touchscreen control.
  • Video recording at Full HD 60fps is important.
  • Macro photography and fast autofocus matter.
  • You appreciate a sharper, more vibrant LCD.
  • You’re willing to invest more in a compact with modern sensor technology.

Final Thoughts from Years in the Field

Having engaged in countless camera reviews and field shoots, I value firsthand experience over spec sheets alone. These two cameras symbolize a transitional era - a time when compact cameras still contended with smartphones, pushing features like superzooms and touchscreen interfaces to differentiate themselves.

The Olympus VR-340 remains a solid budget-friendly zoom tool with easy handling, suited for casual shooters wanting reach without fuss. However, its outdated CCD sensor and lack of raw format limit creative control and low-light prowess.

On the other side, Sony’s TX20 presaged modern compact features with its BSI-CMOS sensor, touchscreen, and Full HD video - a versatile little powerhouse at a higher price. Its environmental sealing and sleek design hint at serious travel-ability.

In conclusion, if zoom range and price dominate your priorities, Olympus is your friend. If you want improved IQ, video, and usability packed into an ultracompact shell, Sony is the smarter pick.

Choosing between them is never just specs but an interplay of expectations, style, and photographic intent. I hope this deep dive empowers your decision and enriches your photographic journey.

Happy shooting!

Article images embedded as referenced.