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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41
Olympus XZ-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony RX100 II 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
  • Introduced January 2011
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Older Model is Sony RX100
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 III
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony RX100 II Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Olympus XZ-1 versus Sony RX100 II, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the XZ-1 (10MP) and RX100 II (20MP) and the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and RX100 II (1") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The XZ-1 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the RX100 II and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the XZ-1 grades against the RX100 II with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Sony RX100 II

 XZ-1 RX100 II 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Olympus XZ-1

 RX100 II XZ-1 
LaunchedJune 2013January 2011Fresher by 29 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k614kClearer screen (+615k dot)

Common features in the Olympus XZ-1 and Sony RX100 II

 XZ-1 RX100 II 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus XZ-1 provides exterior dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) while the Sony RX100 II has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check out the Olympus XZ-1 versus Sony RX100 II in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view size comparison of the XZ-1 versus the RX100 II.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-1 and RX100 II is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to envision the gap in sensor sizing simply by researching specs. The photograph underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-1 and RX100 II.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The XZ-1 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony RX100 II will render more detail due to its extra 10MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older XZ-1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-1
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 II
45
you can focus manually
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
70
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Street photography camera
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
more heavy than average in class (275 grams)
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (281g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Sports photography details
Sony RX100 II Sports photography details
38
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
great battery life (320 shots)
low fps (2.0 fps)
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
features tracking autofocus
great battery pack (350 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Travel photography info
Sony RX100 II Travel photography info
62
great battery life (320 shots)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than average in class (275 grams)
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
80
great battery pack (350 shots)
lighter than competition (281g)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Landscape photography details
Sony RX100 II Landscape photography details
54
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (320 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
doesn't have Timelapse function
74
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (350 per charge)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 II as a Vlogging camera
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone port
more heavy than average in class (275 grams)
37
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (281 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-1 and Sony RX100 II
 Olympus XZ-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus XZ-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Type Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-01-26 2013-06-27
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" 1"
Sensor dimensions 8.07 x 5.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 44.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3664 x 2752 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximal aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.5 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 614 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology OLED Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/2000s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 grams (0.61 pounds) 281 grams (0.62 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 34 67
DXO Color Depth rating 18.8 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.4
DXO Low light rating 117 483
Other
Battery life 320 photos 350 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch price $567 $598