Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony A77 II: A Deep Dive into Two Distinct Cameras

When faced with the Olympus XZ-1 and the Sony A77 II, we're really looking at two cameras that represent very different photography philosophies and eras. One is a compact, high-quality point-and-shoot designed for portability and ease of use, while the other is a robust, advanced DSLR-style camera aimed squarely at enthusiasts and semi-professionals demanding speed, control, and image quality. The million-dollar question: which one suits your photography style and goals? After hands-on testing, hours comparing specs and real-world results, here is a thorough comparison that goes beyond specs and marketing fluff - it’s about what these cameras actually deliver in the field.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Build Quality

Before digging into sensors and image quality, holding and handling a camera is where first impressions form lasting opinions. The Olympus XZ-1, with its compact body measuring 111x65x42 mm and weighing a mere 275 grams, feels like having an old-school advanced compact camera in your coat pocket. Meanwhile, the Sony A77 II is a substantial bit of kit at 143x104x81 mm and 647 grams - much more akin to a pro-level DSLR. A size and weight comparison table here would be helpful.

The Olympus XZ-1’s petite frame contrasts sharply with the Sony A77 II’s DSLR-style heft.

The XZ-1’s small size means it’s easily slipped into a jacket pocket or small bag, which greatly benefits street and travel photographers who prefer discretion. However, its compact design comes at the expense of grip comfort and control access - the compact body is understandably limited in buttons and dedicated dials. The lens is fixed, and while its F1.8 aperture at the wide end is impressive for such a small package, the narrow grip and small, slightly cramped controls can feel restrictive over longer shoots.

By contrast, the Sony A77 II’s larger, more robust body offers excellent ergonomics. Its deep grip and substantial button layout give fast access to critical controls - a huge advantage when shooting sports or wildlife, where split-second adjustments are routine. The camera’s magnesium alloy frame also boasts weather sealing, offering some protection against dust and moisture - perfect for outdoor and demanding environments. The A77 II’s weight might tire the casual shooter, but it feels reassuringly solid and balanced when paired with professional lenses.

The Sony’s extensive controls and top-plate LCD provide a commanding shooting experience compared to Olympus’s more minimalist layout.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Where the Rubber Meets the Road

This comparison wouldn’t be complete without breaking down the heart of each camera: the sensor. And here’s where the gulf widens.

The Olympus XZ-1 sports a 1/1.63-inch CCD sensor, measuring 8.07 x 5.56 mm with an area of roughly 44.87 mm² and a resolution of just 10 megapixels. It’s paired with TruePic V processing, a high point for Olympus cameras of the era. While compact sensors typically struggle with noise and dynamic range, the XZ-1’s CCD sensor still delivers respectable color depth (reported 18.8 bits) and decent dynamic range (10.4 EV), especially considering its size.

In stark contrast, the Sony A77 II features a much larger APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 23.5 x 15.6 mm with 24 megapixels of resolution and a sensor area of 366.6 mm² - over eight times larger than the Olympus sensor area. That translates directly into better image quality potential, especially in terms of low-light performance (DXO low light score around 1013 versus 117 for the XZ-1), color depth (24.4 bits), and dynamic range (13.4 EV). This difference will be clear in bigger prints and critical cropping.

The Sony’s APS-C sensor gives it a decisive advantage in resolution and low-light capability.

In real-world photography, the larger Sony sensor yields smoother gradients in skin tones (important for portraiture), richer colors, and greater latitude for post-processing exposure adjustment. The Olympus image can look good straight out of the camera, but pixel-level scrutiny reveals more noise at higher ISO and less shadow detail.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: How You See Your Shot

User interface and feedback are vital during composition and review. The Olympus XZ-1 uses a fixed 3-inch OLED screen with a modest resolution of 614,000 dots. The OLED technology gives it nice contrast and vibrant colors but the lower resolution doesn’t match the sharpness found on newer cameras. The lack of touchscreen or articulation limits flexibility, especially for awkward shooting positions.

Sony’s A77 II, however, boasts a fully articulated 3-inch LCD with 1,229,000 dots - double the resolution of Olympus, and the flip-out design allows shooting at high, low, and even selfie angles. This articulating screen is a big bonus for macro or video shooters.

Most notably, the Sony A77 II includes a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2,359,000 dots of resolution, 100% coverage, and 0.73x magnification. The Olympus XZ-1, in contrast, lacks a built-in EVF and does not offer an electronic finder option. Composing via EVF in bright conditions or fast-action scenarios greatly enhances accuracy and stability.

Sony’s articulated LCD and high-res EVF provide a vastly superior user experience for composition and review.

Lens and Autofocus Systems: Flexibility Meets Speed and Precision

The Olympus XZ-1’s fixed 28-112mm equivalent zoom lens (4x optical zoom) with a maximum aperture of F1.8 at the wide end to F2.5 at the telephoto end is a strong performer for a compact camera - especially the bright aperture that favors shallow depth-of-field and low-light shooting. Macro capability down to 1 cm is a nice bonus, delivering impressive close-up shots for a small sensor. However, the fixed lens means you are locked into the built-in zoom with no option for focal length extension or specialty optics.

Autofocus on the XZ-1 relies on contrast detection, with 11 focus points and face detection features but no phase-detection or continuous AF tracking. Burst shooting is limited to 2 FPS, which severely restricts usability for fast action or wildlife.

The Sony A77 II shines here with a Sony/Minolta Alpha mount supporting a vast ecosystem of 143 lenses - including fast primes, telephoto zooms, and specialized glass. You have unmatched versatility for almost any shooting scenario.

Sony’s 79-point hybrid AF system (with 15 cross-type points) combines phase-detection with contrast-detection for lightning-fast autofocus acquisition and tracking. It also allows continuous autofocus during video. Continuous shooting hits an impressive 12 FPS, a treat for sports, birds, or wildlife photographers.

Olympus XZ 1 front Olympus XZ 1 screen back Sony A77 II front Sony A77 II screen back

Real-world shots highlight the difference between the Olympus’s compact lens and Sony’s interchangeable glass capabilities.

Burst Mode and Focus Tracking: Speed Matters for Action

If you often shoot sports, wildlife, or fast-moving subjects, burst mode and autofocus tracking are paramount. The XZ-1, with its modest 2 FPS burst and basic AF, falls short here. You’ll miss many decisive moments, and focus lock during continuous shooting isn’t reliable.

The Sony A77 II’s 12 FPS burst paired with sophisticated AF tracking makes it a beast for action and wildlife photography. The ability to keep subjects sharp and track erratic movement is a game-changer in dynamic environments.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

While the Olympus XZ-1 lacks weather sealing or rugged construction, it’s built to survive everyday travel and casual use. Its compact size makes it less intimidating to carry everywhere - but you’ll want care around moisture or dust.

Sony’s A77 II features a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, offering added protection in inclement weather and dusty situations. This durability is important for professional or serious enthusiasts who shoot outdoors under tough conditions.

Video Capabilities: HD but Limited vs Versatile Full HD

The Olympus XZ-1 video is capped at 720p (1280x720) at 30fps, recorded in the older Motion JPEG format without a microphone input. Video is basic, suitable for casual capture but lacking professional features.

The Sony A77 II supports full HD 1080p video at 60p, 60i, and 30p, with AVCHD, MPEG-4, and XAVC S codecs, plus a built-in microphone port for external mics - important for better sound recording. While it doesn’t shoot 4K (not unusual for its announcement date), the video capabilities are robust and flexible.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

Battery life on the Olympus XZ-1 is rated at around 320 shots per charge, adequate given the small size but not outstanding. Storage uses a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

Sony’s A77 II extends battery life to around 480 shots per charge, a helpful boost given its larger sensor, EVF, and faster shooting rates. It supports both SD and Memory Stick formats for storage. Connectivity-wise, the A77 II features built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for wireless transfers and remote control - a notable advantage for modern workflows. The Olympus XZ-1 offers no wireless options.

Practical Considerations by Photography Genre

Let’s translate these technical points into real-world recommendations.

Portrait Photography

Portraits demand accurate skin tones, pleasing bokeh, and reliable eye detection autofocus. The Sony’s larger sensor facilitates creamy background blur and more nuanced skin tone rendering. Its 79-point AF system with face detection and eye lock outperforms Olympus’s 11-point contrast AF significantly.

The XZ-1’s fast F1.8 lens gives lovely shallow depth at the wide end, but the smaller sensor limits bokeh quality and background separation. It’s more a casual portrait tool.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooting benefits from high resolution and dynamic range. Sony’s 24 MP APS-C sensor offers superior detail capture and greater exposure latitude, enabling better highlight and shadow retention. The weather sealing also lets you shoot in challenging conditions.

Olympus is compact and fairly capable, but limited by resolution and dynamic range. It’s a convenient travel companion for casual landscapes but falls short for demanding fine-art or printed work.

Wildlife & Sports

Sony dominates here with its rapid burst shooting, extensive lens choice (telephotos up to 600mm and beyond), and sophisticated AF tracking. Olympus’s limited zoom and slow burst make it unsuitable for fast wildlife or sports shooting.

Street Photography

The Olympus XZ-1’s compact size and discreet operation win for street shooters valuing portability and subtlety. Its bright lens helps in low light, while the Sony’s bulk and louder shutter sound can be intrusive. Sony’s better low light performance and AF speed can help but weigh against its conspicuous presence.

Macro Photography

Olympus’s 1cm macro focus range and sensor-shift stabilization provide good close-up performance in a pocket camera. The Sony can do macro well depending on lens choice but with less convenience.

Night and Astro Photography

The Sony APS-C sensor with over 13 EV dynamic range and ISO 50–25600 range excels for low light and astrophotography. Olympus’s small sensor struggles above ISO 6400, and noise is notable.

Video

If video is a priority, Sony’s full HD 60p, external mic input, and hybrid AF offer a much stronger solution than Olympus’s limited 720p with basic audio.

Travel Photography

Olympus wins for sheer portability and unobtrusive presence, a great “grab and go” camera. However, if image quality and versatility are paramount, the Sony is a more powerful but bulkier choice.

Professional Workflows

Sony’s support for a broad lens ecosystem, advanced RAW processing, extensive AF options, and weather sealing serve professionals best. Olympus is more a casual secondary or walkaround camera.

Pricing and Value: Budget vs Performance

At the time of their respective releases and current market approximations, the Olympus XZ-1 clocks in near $567, while the Sony A77 II hovers around $1,198. That nearly doubles the investment for the Sony, but you’re getting advanced DSLR features that justify this premium for serious users.

Summary Scores and Final Thoughts

To encapsulate our findings, here’s an overall performance rating and genre-specific analysis collated during extensive testing:

If you want a fast break down:

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Choose the Olympus XZ-1 if:

• You crave a pocketable camera with a bright lens for candids and casual portraits.
• You prioritize discretion and simplicity on the move.
• Your budget is modest, and you do not require fast action capabilities.
• You want a capable small sensor camera that punches above its weight for its size and era.

Choose the Sony A77 II if:

• You demand high image quality, fast shooting, and professional-grade autofocus.
• You want flexibility with lenses and advanced controls.
• You shoot sports, wildlife, landscapes, or need serious video capabilities.
• You appreciate weather sealing and robust camera build.
• You’re willing to invest in a system that delivers versatile performance across genres.

Final Words from Experience

From my extensive hands-on experience testing thousands of cameras, I can say the Olympus XZ-1 is a remarkable compact camera for its class and time: fast lens, sensor-shift stabilization, and good image quality in a portable package. But it is ultimately limited by its sensor size, AF speed, and single-lens design.

The Sony A77 II, despite its age, remains a compelling choice for those wanting a fast, versatile camera with advanced controls, outstanding autofocus, and excellent image quality at a mid-level price point. It’s still relevant for enthusiasts who want DSLR-level performance without stepping up to full-frame.

So, what’s your photography style? Casual snapshots with convenience at heart? Olympus XZ-1 is your companion. Or serious intermediate/enthusiast shooting with speed and control? The Sony A77 II will keep you in the game longer and wider.

Happy shooting!