Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony H50

Let's look more closely at the Olympus XZ-1 versus Sony H50, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the XZ-1 (10MP) and the H50 (9MP) is pretty well matched but the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and H50 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The XZ-1 was manufactured 2 years later than the H50 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the XZ-1 grades vs the H50 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus XZ-1 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery & Sony H50 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry your camera, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus XZ-1 offers external measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) and the Sony H50 has specifications of 116mm x 81mm x 86mm (4.6" x 3.2" x 3.4") having a weight of 547 grams (1.21 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus XZ-1 versus Sony H50 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the XZ-1 and the H50.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-1 and H50 is 88 and 69 respectively.

Generally, it is very hard to picture the difference between sensor sizing merely by checking technical specs. The graphic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-1 and H50.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The XZ-1 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus XZ-1 will give extra detail due to its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The younger XZ-1 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.