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Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony A99 II

The Olympus XZ-1 and the Sony Alpha ALT-A99 II are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in January 2011 and September 2016. The XZ-1 is a fixed lens compact, while the A99 II is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a 1/1.7-inch (XZ-1) and a full frame (A99 II) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 10.1 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 42.2 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Olympus XZ-1
versus
Sony A99 II
Olympus XZ-1   Sony A99 II
Fixed lens compact camera Digital single lens reflex
28-112mm f/1.8-2.5 Sony A mount lenses
10.1 MP – 1/1.7" sensor 42.2 MP – Full Frame sensor
720/30p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-6,400 ISO 100-25,600
Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder (2400k dots)
3.0" LCD – 614k dots 3.0" LCD – 1229k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fully flexible screen (no touchscreen)
2 shutter flaps per second 12 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
320 shots per battery charge490 shots per battery charge
111 x 65 x 42 mm, 275 g 143 x 104 x 76 mm, 849 g
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Check XZ-1 offers at
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Check A99 II offers at
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus XZ-1 and the Sony Alpha ALT-A99 II? 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.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Olympus XZ-1 and the Sony A99 II is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The XZ-1 can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the A99 II is only available in black.

Size Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony A99 II
Compare XZ-1 versus A99 II top
Comparison XZ-1 or A99 II rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A99 II is considerably larger (106 percent) than the Olympus XZ-1. It is noteworthy in this context that the A99 II is splash and dust-proof, while the XZ-1 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the XZ-1 has a lens built in, whereas the A99 II is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus XZ-1 111 mm 65 mm 42 mm 275 g 320 n Jan 2011 499ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A99 II 143 mm 104 mm 76 mm 849 g 490 Y Sep 2016 3,199ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 5DS R 152 mm 116 mm 76 mm 930 g 700 Y Feb 2015 3,699ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D850 146 mm 124 mm 79 mm 1005 g 1840 Y Jul 2017 3,299 amazon.com
5.
 
Olympus TG-5 113 mm 66 mm 32 mm 250 g 340 Y May 2017 449ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-PM2 110 mm 64 mm 34 mm 269 g 360 n Sep 2012 499ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus XZ-2 113 mm 65 mm 48 mm 346 g 340 n Sep 2012 599ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-PL3 110 mm 64 mm 37 mm 313 g 300 n Jun 2011 599ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-PM1 110 mm 64 mm 34 mm 265 g 330 n Jun 2011 499ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-PL1 115 mm 72 mm 42 mm 334 g 290 n Feb 2010 599ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic FZ200 125 mm 87 mm 110 mm 588 g 540 n Jul 2012 599ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic LX7 111 mm 68 mm 46 mm 298 g 330 n Jul 2012 499ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic FZ150 124 mm 82 mm 92 mm 528 g 410 n Aug 2011 499ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic LX5 110 mm 65 mm 43 mm 271 g 400 n Jul 2010 499ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A7R IIIA 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Apr 2021 3,199 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A7R II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 625 g 290 Y Jun 2015 3,199ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A7S II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 627 g 370 Y Sep 2015 2,999ebay.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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The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The XZ-1 was launched at a lower price than the A99 II, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant 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. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus XZ-1 features a 1/1.7-inch sensor and the Sony A99 II a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A99 II is 1774 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 4.4 and 1.0. The sensor in the XZ-1 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the A99 II offers a 3:2 aspect.

Olympus XZ-1 and Sony A99 II sensor measures

With 42.2MP, the A99 II offers a higher resolution than the XZ-1 (10.1MP), but the A99 II nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.52μm versus 2.13μm for the XZ-1) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the A99 II is a much more recent model (by 5 years and 8 months) than the XZ-1, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the A99 II has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A99 II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A99 II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 39.8 x 26.5 inches or 101 x 67.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 31.8 x 21.2 inches or 80.8 x 53.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 26.5 x 17.7 inches or 67.3 x 44.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus XZ-1 are 18.3 x 13.8 inches or 46.5 x 35 cm for good quality, 14.7 x 11 inches or 37.2 x 28 cm for very good quality, and 12.2 x 9.2 inches or 31 x 23.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The A99 II has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Olympus XZ-1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha ALT-A99 II are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-25600.

In terms of underlying technology, the XZ-1 is build around a CCD sensor, while the A99 II uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

XZ-1 versus A99 II MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the A99 II offers substantially better image quality than the XZ-1 (overall score 58 points higher). The advantage is based on 6.6 bits higher color depth, 3 EV in additional dynamic range, and 4.3 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus XZ-1 1/1.7 10.1 3664 2752720/30p18.810.411734
2.
 
Sony A99 II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p25.413.4231792
3.
 
Canon 5DS R Full Frame 50.3 8688 57921080/30p24.612.4230886
4.
 
Nikon D850 Full Frame 45.4 8256 55044K/30p26.414.82660100
5.
 
Olympus TG-5 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30004K/30p20.511.993450
6.
 
Olympus E-PM2 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.712.293272
7.
 
Olympus XZ-2 1/1.7 11.8 3968 29761080/30p20.411.321649
8.
 
Olympus E-PL3 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i20.910.349952
9.
 
Olympus E-PM1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i21.010.349952
10.
 
Olympus E-PL1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.510.148754
11.
 
Panasonic FZ200 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30001080/60p19.110.811437
12.
 
Panasonic LX7 1/1.7 10.0 3648 27361080/60p20.711.714750
13.
 
Panasonic FZ150 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30001080/60p19.410.913240
14.
 
Panasonic LX5 1/1.7 10.0 3648 2736720/60p19.610.813241
15.
 
Sony A7R IIIA Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
16.
 
Sony A7R II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.013.9343498
17.
 
Sony A7S II Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/30p23.613.3299385
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the A99 II provides a better video resolution than the XZ-1. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Olympus is limited to 720/30p.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A99 II has an electronic viewfinder (2400k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the XZ-1 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the XZ-1 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the VF-2. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Olympus XZ-1 and Sony A99 II along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image 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 XZ-1optional n3.0 / 614 fixed n 1/2000s 2.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Sony A99 II2400 Y3.0 / 1229 full-flex n 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
3.
 
Canon 5DS Roptical Y3.2 / 1040 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s n n
4.
 
Nikon D850optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 9.0/s n n
5.
 
Olympus TG-5none n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/2000s 20.0/s Y Y
6.
 
Olympus E-PM2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 8.0/s n Y
7.
 
Olympus XZ-2optional n3.0 / 920 tilting Y 1/2000s 5.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Olympus E-PL3optional n3.0 / 460 tilting n 1/4000s 5.5/s n Y
9.
 
Olympus E-PM1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 5.5/s n Y
10.
 
Olympus E-PL1optional n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/2000s 3.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Panasonic FZ2001312 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Panasonic LX7optional n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Panasonic FZ150202 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/2000s 12.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Panasonic LX5optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y Y
15.
 
Sony A7R IIIA3686 n3.0 / 2340 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
16.
 
Sony A7R II2400 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
17.
 
Sony A7S II2400 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The XZ-1 has one, while the A99 II does not. While the built-in flash of the XZ-1 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The A99 II has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the XZ-1 does not have a selfie-screen.

The Olympus XZ-1 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The XZ-1 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A99 II uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The A99 II features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the XZ-1 only has one slot. The A99 II supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the XZ-1 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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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 XZ-1 and Sony Alpha ALT-A99 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Olympus XZ-1Ymono / ---mini2.0---
2.
 
Sony A99 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YYY
3.
 
Canon 5DS RYmono / monoY-mini3.0---
4.
 
Nikon D850Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0YYY
5.
 
Olympus TG-5-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
6.
 
Olympus E-PM2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
7.
 
Olympus XZ-2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
8.
 
Olympus E-PL3Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
9.
 
Olympus E-PM1Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
10.
 
Olympus E-PL1Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
11.
 
Panasonic FZ200Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
12.
 
Panasonic LX7Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic FZ150Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
14.
 
Panasonic LX5Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
15.
 
Sony A7R IIIAYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2YYY
16.
 
Sony A7R IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
17.
 
Sony A7S IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
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It is notable that the A99 II offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the XZ-1 does not provide wifi capability.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Sony A99 II (unlike the XZ-1) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the XZ-1 and the A99 II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The XZ-1 was replaced by the Olympus XZ-2, while the A99 II does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the XZ-1 and A99 II can be found, respectively, in the Olympus XZ-1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A99 II Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Olympus XZ-1 and the Sony A99 II? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

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Arguments in favor of the Olympus XZ-1:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • Ready to shoot: Comes with a built-in lens, while the A99 II requires a separate lens.
  • More compact: Is smaller (111x65mm vs 143x104mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the A99 II).
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2011).

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Advantages of the Sony Alpha ALT-A99 II:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (42.2 vs 10.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 109%.
  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (58 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (6.6 bits more color depth).
  • More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (3 EV of extra DR).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (4.3 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 720/30p).
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1229k vs 614k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a full-flex 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.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 2 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More flexible: Makes it possible to change lenses and thus to use specialty optics.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (490 versus 320) out of a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
  • More modern: Reflects 5 years and 8 months of technical progress since the XZ-1 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A99 II is the clear winner of the contest (27 : 8 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. 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.

XZ-1 08:27 A99 II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus XZ-1 and the Sony A99 II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera and Best DSLR 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 XZ-1 or the A99 II. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus XZ-14/5....74/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2011 499ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A99 II....4.5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2016 3,199ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 5DS R5/5+..83/1005/54.5/5 Feb 2015 3,699ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D8504.5/5+ +5/589/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2017 3,299 amazon.com
5.
 
Olympus TG-5..+ +4.5/5..4/54/5 May 2017 449ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-PM23/5....77/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 499ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus XZ-24/5+....4.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 599ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-PL33/5+ +..72/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2011 599ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-PM1..86/100..71/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2011 499ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-PL1..86/100..69/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2010 599ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic FZ2003/5+ +..80/1004.5/54.5/5 Jul 2012 599ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic LX73/5+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2012 499ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic FZ1503/5+ +..76/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2011 499ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic LX54/5+..73/1004.5/54.5/5 Jul 2010 499ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A7R IIIA..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Apr 2021 3,199 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A7R II5/5+ +5/590/1005/55/5 Jun 2015 3,199ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A7S II5/5+....4.5/55/5 Sep 2015 2,999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The review scores listed above should be treated 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, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Olympus XZ-1 vs Sony A99 II

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Olympus XZ-1 Sony A99 II
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens 28-112mm f/1.8-2.5 Sony A mount lenses
    Launch Date January 2011 September 2016
    Launch Price USD 499 USD 3,199
    Sensor Specs Olympus XZ-1 Sony A99 II
    Sensor Technology CCD BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format 1/1.7" Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 7.85 x 5.89 mm 35.9 x 24.0 mm
    Sensor Area 46.2365 mm2 861.6 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 9.8 mm 43.2 mm
    Crop Factor 4.4x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 10.1 Megapixels 42.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3664 x 2752 pixels 7952 x 5304 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 2.13 μm 4.52 μm
    Pixel Density 21.81 MP/cm2 4.90 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 720/30p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 6,400 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 50 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor TruePic V BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 34 92
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 18.8 25.4
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.4 13.4
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 117 2317
    Screen Specs Olympus XZ-1 Sony A99 II
    Viewfinder Type Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2400k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 614k dots 1229k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fully flexible screen
    Shooting Specs Olympus XZ-1 Sony A99 II
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/2000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 2 shutter flaps/s 12 shutter flaps/s
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inno Intervalometer
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support no UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Olympus XZ-1 Sony A99 II
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Olympus XZ-1 Sony A99 II
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Olympus Li-50B Sony NP-FM500H
    Battery Life (CIPA)320 shots per charge490 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 111 x 65 x 42 mm
    (4.4 x 2.6 x 1.7 in)
    143 x 104 x 76 mm
    (5.6 x 4.1 x 3.0 in)
    Camera Weight 275 g (9.7 oz) 849 g (29.9 oz)
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    Check XZ-1 offers at
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    Check A99 II offers at
    ebay.com

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