Clicky

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony S950

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41
Olympus XZ-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony S950 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
  • Introduced January 2011
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Released February 2009
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony S950 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus XZ-1 versus Sony S950, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the XZ-1 (10MP) and the S950 (10MP) is pretty well matched but the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and S950 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-1 was manufactured 24 months later than the S950 which makes them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the XZ-1 scores versus the S950 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Sony S950

 XZ-1 S950 
ReleasedJanuary 2011February 2009More recent by 24 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution614k230kSharper screen (+384k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Olympus XZ-1

 S950 XZ-1 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-1 and Sony S950

 XZ-1 S950 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus XZ-1 has physical measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) whilst the Sony S950 has sizing of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus XZ-1 versus Sony S950 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the XZ-1 compared to the S950.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-1 and S950 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements purely by looking at technical specs. The photograph here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-1 and S950.

As you can tell, both of the cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit different sensor measurements. The XZ-1 has the bigger sensor which will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult. The younger XZ-1 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Portrait photography highlights
Sony S950 Portrait photography highlights
45
has manual focus
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
low resolution (10MP)
small sensor size (1/1.63")
26
you can focus manually
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus XZ-1
Street photography with Sony S950
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/1.63")
heavier than competitors (275g)
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S950 as a Sports photography camera
38
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (320 per charge)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.63")
no phase detect AF
24
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Travel photography highlights
Sony S950 Travel photography highlights
62
better than average battery life (320 per charge)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (275 grams)
low resolution (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
50
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low MP (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Landscape photography information
Sony S950 Landscape photography information
54
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (320 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.63")
lack of Time Lapse mode
31
you can focus manually
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S950 as a Vlogging camera
31
relatively wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
does not feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic port
heavier than competitors (275g)
9
lack of video recording
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-1 and Sony S950
 Olympus XZ-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus XZ-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-01-26 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V -
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3664 x 2752 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 4.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 614k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology OLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $567 $130