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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX1

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41
Olympus XZ-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX1 Key Specs

Olympus XZ-1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 275g - 111 x 65 x 42mm
  • Announced January 2011
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
  • Announced April 2009
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX1 Overview

Below is a in depth review of the Olympus XZ-1 versus Sony HX1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the XZ-1 (10MP) and the HX1 (9MP) is pretty similar but the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and HX1 (1/2.4") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-1 was unveiled 22 months later than the HX1 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief view of how the XZ-1 matches up versus the HX1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Sony HX1

 XZ-1 HX1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011April 2009More recent by 22 months
Screen resolution614k230kCrisper screen (+384k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus XZ-1

 HX1 XZ-1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus XZ-1 and Sony HX1

 XZ-1 HX1 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus XZ-1 has outside dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) and the Sony HX1 has measurements of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") along with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Check out the Olympus XZ-1 versus Sony HX1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the XZ-1 against the HX1.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-1 and HX1 is 88 and 67 respectively.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading technical specs. The photograph underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-1 and HX1.

As you can tell, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The XZ-1 with its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus XZ-1 will offer you greater detail having an extra 1MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The fresher XZ-1 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Portrait photography camera
45
has manual focus
features face detection focusing
saves RAW files
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
27
you can focus manually
external flash not possible
low MP (9MP)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Street photography info
Sony HX1 Street photography info
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
more heavy than average (275g)
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
more heavy than competitors in class (544 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX1 Sports photography highlights
38
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery (320 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
lack of phase detect AF
36
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
low MP (9 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Travel photography details
Sony HX1 Travel photography details
62
better than average battery (320 shots)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (275 grams)
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
48
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (544 grams)
low MP (9MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus XZ-1
Landscape photography with Sony HX1
54
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (320 per charge)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
missing Timelapse recording
39
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
low MP (9MP)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX1 as a Vlogging camera
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than average (275 grams)
22
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1440 x 1080 resolution)
does not have microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (544 grams)
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-1 and Sony HX1
 Olympus XZ-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus XZ-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-01-26 2009-04-22
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 8.07 x 5.56mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 9 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3664 x 2752 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 4.5 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 614 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech OLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) 9.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1440x1080
Video format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 275 gr (0.61 lbs) 544 gr (1.20 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 34 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 18.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 117 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID Li-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $567 $47,999