Olympus E-600 vs Sony RX0

The Olympus E-600 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX0 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in August 2009 and August 2017. The E-600 is a DSLR, while the RX0 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (E-600) and an one-inch (RX0) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 12.2 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 15.4 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Olympus E-600		Sony RX0
Digital single lens reflex		Fixed lens compact camera
Four Thirds lenses		24mm f/4.0
12.2 MP – Four Thirds sensor		15.4 MP – 1" sensor
no Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 100-3,200		ISO 125-12,800
Optical viewfinder		No viewfinder, LCD framing
2.7" LCD – 230k dots		1.5" LCD – 230k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
4 shutter flaps per second		5.5 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		no shake reduction
not weather sealed		Waterproof body (10m)
500 shots per battery charge		240 shots per battery charge
130 x 94 x 60 mm, 535 g		59 x 41 x 30 mm, 110 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus E-600 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX0? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-600 and the Sony RX0. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony RX0 is considerably smaller (80 percent) than the Olympus E-600. It is noteworthy in this context that the RX0 is splash and dust-proof, while the E-600 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing. More than that, the RX0 is water-proof up to 10m and can, thus, be used for underwater photography.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the RX0 has a lens built in, whereas the E-600 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the E-600 and their specifications in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the E-600 gets 500 shots out of its Olympus BLS-1 battery, while the RX0 can take 240 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-BJ1 power pack. The power pack in the RX0 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Olympus E-600	130 mm	94 mm	60 mm	535 g	500	n	Aug 2009	US$ 449	ebay.com
2.		Sony RX0	59 mm	41 mm	30 mm	110 g	240	Y	Aug 2017	US$ 699	ebay.com
3.		Fujifilm X70	113 mm	64 mm	44 mm	340 g	330	n	Jan 2016	US$ 799	ebay.com
4.		Olympus E-5	142 mm	117 mm	75 mm	873 g	750	Y	Sep 2010	US$ 1 699	ebay.com
5.		Olympus E-30	142 mm	108 mm	75 mm	701 g	750	n	Nov 2008	US$ 1 299	ebay.com
6.		Olympus E-420	130 mm	91 mm	53 mm	440 g	500	n	Mar 2008	US$ 599	ebay.com
7.		Olympus E-450	130 mm	91 mm	53 mm	440 g	500	n	Mar 2009	US$ 499	ebay.com
8.		Olympus E-510	136 mm	92 mm	68 mm	538 g	750	n	Mar 2007	US$ 799	ebay.com
9.		Olympus E-520	136 mm	92 mm	68 mm	535 g	750	n	May 2008	US$ 699	ebay.com
10.		Olympus E-620	130 mm	94 mm	60 mm	521 g	500	n	Feb 2009	US$ 699	ebay.com
11.		Olympus E-P1	121 mm	70 mm	36 mm	355 g	300	n	Jun 2009	US$ 799	ebay.com
12.		Olympus E-P2	121 mm	70 mm	36 mm	355 g	300	n	Nov 2009	US$ 799	ebay.com
13.		Olympus E-PM1	110 mm	64 mm	34 mm	265 g	330	n	Jun 2011	US$ 499	ebay.com
14.		Sony RX0 II	59 mm	41 mm	35 mm	132 g	240	Y	Mar 2019	US$ 699	amazon.com
15.		Sony RX10 III	133 mm	94 mm	127 mm	1051 g	420	Y	Mar 2016	US$ 1 499	ebay.com
16.		Sony RX10 IV	133 mm	94 mm	145 mm	1095 g	400	Y	Sep 2017	US$ 1 699	amazon.com
17.		Sony RX100 V	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	299 g	220	n	Oct 2016	US$ 999	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus E-600 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Sony RX0 an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the RX0 is 48 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 2.7. The sensor in the E-600 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the RX0 offers a 3:2 aspect.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the RX0 offers a higher resolution of 15.4 megapixels, compared with 12.2 MP of the E-600. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 2.74μm versus 4.29μm for the E-600). However, it should be noted that the RX0 is much more recent (by 8 years) than the E-600, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The resolution advantage of the Sony RX0 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the RX0 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 19.2 x 12.8 inches or 48.8 x 32.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 16 x 10.7 inches or 40.6 x 27.1 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-600 are 20.2 x 15.1 inches or 51.2 x 38.4 cm for good quality, 16.1 x 12.1 inches or 41 x 30.7 cm for very good quality, and 13.4 x 10.1 inches or 34.1 x 25.6 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Olympus E-600 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX0 are ISO 125 to ISO 12800 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the RX0 offers substantially better image quality than the E-600 (overall score 13 points higher). The advantage is based on 0.9 bits higher color depth, 2.1 EV in additional dynamic range, and -0 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Olympus E-600	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	none	21.5	10.3	541	55
2.		Sony RX0	1-inch	15.4	4800	3200	1080/60p	22.4	12.4	548	68
3.		Fujifilm X70	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	23.7	13.0	1608	80
4.		Olympus E-5	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	720/30p	21.6	10.5	519	56
5.		Olympus E-30	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	none	21.3	10.4	530	55
6.		Olympus E-420	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.5	10.4	527	56
7.		Olympus E-450	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.5	10.5	512	56
8.		Olympus E-510	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.2	10.0	442	52
9.		Olympus E-520	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.4	10.4	548	55
10.		Olympus E-620	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	none	21.3	10.3	536	55
11.		Olympus E-P1	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	720/30p	21.4	10.4	536	55
12.		Olympus E-P2	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	720/30p	21.5	10.4	505	56
13.		Olympus E-PM1	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	1080/60i	21.0	10.3	499	52
14.		Sony RX0 II	1-inch	15.4	4800	3200	4K/30p	22.1	12.4	555	65
15.		Sony RX10 III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.1	12.6	472	70
16.		Sony RX10 IV	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.0	12.2	408	63
17.		Sony RX100 V	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.4	586	70
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The RX0 indeed provides for movie recording, while the E-600 does not. The highest resolution format that the RX0 can use is 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the E-600 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the RX0 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus E-600, the Sony RX0, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Olympus E-600	optical	n	2.7 / 230	swivel	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	Y
2.		Sony RX0	none	n	1.5 / 230	fixed	n	..	5.5/s	n	n
3.		Fujifilm X70	optional	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
4.		Olympus E-5	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	swivel	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	Y
5.		Olympus E-30	optical	Y	2.7 / 230	swivel	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	Y
6.		Olympus E-420	optical	n	2.7 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	n
7.		Olympus E-450	optical	n	2.7 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	n
8.		Olympus E-510	optical	n	2.5 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	Y
9.		Olympus E-520	optical	n	2.7 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	Y
10.		Olympus E-620	optical	n	2.7 / 230	swivel	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	Y
11.		Olympus E-P1	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	n	Y
12.		Olympus E-P2	optional	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	n	Y
13.		Olympus E-PM1	optional	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.5/s	n	Y
14.		Sony RX0 II	none	n	1.5 / 230	tilting	n	..	5.5/s	n	n
15.		Sony RX10 III	2359	Y	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	14.0/s	Y	Y
16.		Sony RX10 IV	2359	Y	3.0 / 1440	tilting	Y	1/2000s	24.0/s	Y	Y
17.		Sony RX100 V	2359	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	24.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The E-600 has one, while the RX0 does not. While the built-in flash of the E-600 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the RX0 only has electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The E-600 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards, while the RX0 uses micro SDXC or Memory Stick Micro cards. The E-600 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the RX0 only has one slot.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus E-600 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX0 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Olympus E-600	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Sony RX0	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
3.		Fujifilm X70	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
4.		Olympus E-5	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Olympus E-30	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Olympus E-420	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Olympus E-450	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Olympus E-510	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Olympus E-520	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Olympus E-620	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Olympus E-P1	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Olympus E-P2	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Olympus E-PM1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Sony RX0 II	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
15.		Sony RX10 III	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
16.		Sony RX10 IV	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony RX100 V	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the E-600 has a hotshoe, while the RX0 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Both the E-600 and the RX0 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The RX0 was replaced by the Sony RX0 II, while the E-600 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the E-600 and RX0 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-600 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony RX0 Manual.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Olympus E-600 better than the Sony RX0 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Reasons to prefer the Olympus E-600:

• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (2.7" vs 1.5") for image review and settings control.
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (500 versus 240) on a single battery charge.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in August 2009).

Arguments in favor of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX0:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (15.4 vs 12.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 14%.
• Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (13 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (2.1 EV of extra DR).
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 1080/60p video.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5.5 vs 4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the E-600 requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (59x41mm vs 130x94mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the E-600).
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Water-proof: Is rugged and sealed and can thus be used for underwater photography (up to 10m).
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More modern: Reflects 8 years of technical progress since the E-600 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the RX0 is the clear winner of the contest (15 : 11 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-600 and the Sony RX0 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Prime Lens Compact Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-600 or the RX0. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Olympus E-600	..	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	Aug 2009	US$ 449	ebay.com
2.		Sony RX0	..	..	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Aug 2017	US$ 699	ebay.com
3.		Fujifilm X70	4.5/5	..	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	US$ 799	ebay.com
4.		Olympus E-5	4/5	..	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2010	US$ 1 699	ebay.com
5.		Olympus E-30	..	..	..	71/100	4.5/5	4/5	Nov 2008	US$ 1 299	ebay.com
6.		Olympus E-420	..	85/100	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Mar 2008	US$ 599	ebay.com
7.		Olympus E-450	..	..	..	..	4/5	4/5	Mar 2009	US$ 499	ebay.com
8.		Olympus E-510	..	89/100	..	+ +	3.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2007	US$ 799	ebay.com
9.		Olympus E-520	..	87/100	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	May 2008	US$ 699	ebay.com
10.		Olympus E-620	3/5	88/100	..	72/100	4.5/5	5/5	Feb 2009	US$ 699	ebay.com
11.		Olympus E-P1	..	+	..	66/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2009	US$ 799	ebay.com
12.		Olympus E-P2	3/5	+	..	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	Nov 2009	US$ 799	ebay.com
13.		Olympus E-PM1	..	86/100	..	71/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2011	US$ 499	ebay.com
14.		Sony RX0 II	..	..	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Mar 2019	US$ 699	amazon.com
15.		Sony RX10 III	5/5	+	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2016	US$ 1 499	ebay.com
16.		Sony RX10 IV	5/5	+	3.5/5	84/100	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2017	US$ 1 699	amazon.com
17.		Sony RX100 V	4.5/5	+ +	..	83/100	4/5	4.5/5	Oct 2016	US$ 999	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

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