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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony WX5

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41
Olympus XZ-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
29
Overall
32

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony WX5 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
  • Announced January 2011
Sony WX5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
  • Launched July 2010
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony WX5 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony WX5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the XZ-1 (10MP) and the WX5 (12MP) is relatively similar but the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and WX5 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The XZ-1 was introduced 7 months after the WX5 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the XZ-1 scores against the WX5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Sony WX5

 XZ-1 WX5 
LaunchedJanuary 2011July 2010More modern by 7 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen dimension3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution614k461kClearer screen (+153k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony WX5 over the Olympus XZ-1

 WX5 XZ-1 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-1 and Sony WX5

 XZ-1 WX5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony WX5 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus XZ-1 features outer dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) and the Sony WX5 has specifications of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony WX5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the XZ-1 compared to the WX5.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony WX5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-1 and WX5 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony WX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony WX5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to see the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading technical specs. The pic underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-1 and WX5.

As you have seen, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The XZ-1 using its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh simpler and the Sony WX5 will offer you greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The younger XZ-1 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony WX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony WX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony WX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-1
Portrait photography with Sony WX5
45
focusing manually
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
21
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX5 as a Street photography camera
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
heavier than competition (275g)
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Sports photography info
Sony WX5 Sports photography info
38
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
good battery life (320 per charge)
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
lacks phase detect auto focus
34
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Travel photography info
Sony WX5 Travel photography info
62
good battery life (320 CIPA)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (275g)
resolution not great (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
58
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus XZ-1
Landscape photography with Sony WX5
54
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (320 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
37
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (2.8")
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Vlogging advice
Sony WX5 Vlogging advice
31
fairly wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
heavier than competition (275 grams)
32
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony WX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-1 and Sony WX5
 Olympus XZ-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus XZ-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-01-26 2010-07-08
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 8.07 x 5.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3664 x 2752 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.8"
Screen resolution 614k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech OLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) 5.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance 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 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 275g (0.61 pounds) 146g (0.32 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" 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 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID Li-50B NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $567 $250