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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41
Olympus XZ-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX20V 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 HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX10V
  • Successor is Sony HX30V
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX20V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the XZ-1 (10MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and HX20V (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The XZ-1 was brought out 18 months earlier than the HX20V which makes them a generation away from one another. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the XZ-1 matches up against the HX20V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Sony HX20V

 XZ-1 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus XZ-1

 HX20V XZ-1 
AnnouncedJuly 2012January 2011Newer by 18 months
Screen resolution922k614kCrisper screen (+308k dot)

Common features in the Olympus XZ-1 and Sony HX20V

 XZ-1 HX20V 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus XZ-1 features exterior 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 HX20V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX20V in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the XZ-1 compared to the HX20V.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-1 and HX20V is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by researching specs. The image below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-1 and HX20V.

All in all, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The XZ-1 due to its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX20V will render greater detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged XZ-1 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX20V Portrait photography advice
45
focusing manually
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
45
focusing manually
MP count good (18MP)
comes with face detection focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Street photography details
Sony HX20V Street photography details
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
heavier than competition (275g)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Sports photography details
Sony HX20V Sports photography details
38
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
good battery power (320 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
lack of phase detect autofocus
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Travel photography features
Sony HX20V Travel photography features
62
good battery power (320 shots)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (275 grams)
low megapixels (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX20V Landscape photography advice
54
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (320 shots)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
missing Time Lapse function
50
focusing manually
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX20V Vlogging highlights
31
decently wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic jack
heavier than competition (275g)
34
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-1 and Sony HX20V
 Olympus XZ-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus XZ-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-01-26 2012-07-20
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 8.07 x 5.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3664 x 2752 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 4.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 614 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology OLED XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 275 gr (0.61 pounds) 254 gr (0.56 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 34 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 18.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 117 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 images 320 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $567 $397