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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX7V

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41
Olympus XZ-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX7V Key Specs

Olympus XZ-1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 275g - 111 x 65 x 42mm
  • Released January 2011
Sony HX7V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 208g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released July 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX7V Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Olympus XZ-1 versus Sony HX7V, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the XZ-1 (10MP) and HX7V (16MP) and the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and HX7V (1/2.3") use different sensor measurements.

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The XZ-1 was brought out 5 months earlier than the HX7V and they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the XZ-1 matches up against the HX7V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Sony HX7V

 XZ-1 HX7V 
Focus manually More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Sony HX7V over the Olympus XZ-1

 HX7V XZ-1 
Display resolution921k614kClearer display (+307k dot)

Common features in the Olympus XZ-1 and Sony HX7V

 XZ-1 HX7V 
ReleasedJanuary 2011July 2011Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX7V Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. 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) while the Sony HX7V has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Examine the Olympus XZ-1 versus Sony HX7V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view size comparison of the XZ-1 versus the HX7V.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX7V size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-1 and HX7V is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX7V top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX7V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements merely by viewing specifications. The graphic here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-1 and HX7V.

Plainly, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The XZ-1 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony HX7V will render more detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX7V sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX7V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX7V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Portrait photography information
Sony HX7V Portrait photography information
45
has manual focus
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.63")
30
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Street photography features
Sony HX7V Street photography features
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/1.63")
heavier than others (275g)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Sports photography details
Sony HX7V Sports photography details
38
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery (320 CIPA)
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.63")
lacks phase detect auto focus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX7V Travel photography highlights
62
better than average battery (320 per charge)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others (275g)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
67
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX7V Landscape photography advice
54
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (320 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.63")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX7V as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than others (275 grams)
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic port
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony HX7V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-1 and Sony HX7V
 Olympus XZ-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus XZ-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-01-26 2011-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 44.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3664 x 2752 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Crop factor 4.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology OLED XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) 4.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 275g (0.61 lb) 208g (0.46 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID Li-50B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $567 $499