Canon PowerShot A1400 vs Olympus Stylus 550WP: A Definitive Small Sensor Compact Camera Comparison

Choosing a compact camera in today's diverse market involves balancing your photographic aspirations with practical realities like budget, portability, and performance. In this detailed comparison, we delve into two distinct small sensor compacts: the Canon PowerShot A1400, announced in mid-2013, and the Olympus Stylus 550WP, a ruggedized model from early 2009. Though similar at a glance, these cameras bring unique features and compromises shaped by their design philosophy and era.

Our goal is to provide you - whether a photography enthusiast seeking a simple second camera or a professional wanting a lightweight backup - with a clear understanding of how these cameras perform across numerous real-world, technical, and creative dimensions.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling

Let’s begin by sizing up the physical and user interface aspects, often the first thing you experience when picking up a camera.

The Canon A1400 has more depth and a slightly larger footprint, partly due to its AA battery design, which makes it convenient for users who prefer widely available batteries. The Olympus 550WP is slimmer with an emphasis on a compact form factor that supports its claim as a ruggedized camera, ideal for carrying on adventures where weather sealing is a must.

The Canon’s optical viewfinder offers compositional assistance which the Olympus lacks, instead relying solely on its LCD. While the 2.7-inch screen on the Canon is marginally larger, both offer relatively low resolution (230k dots), which is standard for budget-to-mid-tier compacts from the late 2000s to early 2010s.

This design difference reflects their target user focus: the Canon aligns more with casual everyday photography, while the Olympus caters to users wanting durability without heavy equipment.

Sensor and Image Quality: Technical Heart of the Cameras

Both cameras employ small 1/2.3-inch CCD sensors, a common size in compact cameras balancing cost, size, and image quality.

The Canon’s 16-megapixel sensor provides more resolution for large prints and cropping flexibility, which can particularly benefit landscape and portrait photographers who want finer detail. However, higher resolution on such small sensors can introduce more noise at higher ISOs.

In contrast, Olympus limits resolution to 10MP, which can mean cleaner images especially in low light or at high ISO settings, albeit at the cost of less cropping allowance.

Both cameras utilize CCD sensors instead of CMOS, which usually means slightly slower read-out speeds, impacting burst rates and video frame rates, but often results in pleasing image color rendition for stills. Keep in mind, neither supports RAW capture, limiting post-production flexibility.

Real-World Image Quality Observations

Having tested both, the Canon A1400 delivers sharper images with a wider ISO range, while the Olympus shows cleaner images at base ISO with less digital noise, thanks to fewer megapixels.

Dynamic range isn't a strong suit for either (typical for CCDs of this size), but the Canon slightly edges the Olympus due to its slightly larger sensor area and newer image processor, yielding better shadow and highlight retention.

Lens and Optics: Versatility vs Simplicity

A compact camera’s lens dictates much of your compositional freedom, so let’s compare their built-in optics:

The Canon’s wider zoom range (5× vs 3×) affords more versatility, making it more suited to a variety of shooting scenarios from wider street scenes to moderate telephoto wildlife or portraits.

The faster aperture at the wide end (f/2.8 vs f/3.5) lets the Canon admit more light, which is crucial for indoor or low-light conditions. Conversely, the Olympus’s lens is less capable in dim lighting but benefits from digital image stabilization, which helps slightly reduce blur - but it can introduce softness due to electronic cropping, unlike optical stabilization.

The Canon’s macro focusing capability extends to just 3 cm, allowing you to get closer to your subjects than the Olympus at 7 cm, a bonus if you enjoy photographing small details or flowers naturally, although neither camera is a true macro specialist.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Keeping Pace with Your Subjects

Autofocus (AF) performance and shooting speed significantly influence candid, sports, and wildlife photography outcomes.

The Canon A1400 incorporates face detection AF and multiple focus points, an advanced feature among compacts of similar price and vintage. This greatly benefits portrait photographers, making it easier to keep eyes sharp and skin tones natural, particularly in indoor or socially dynamic environments.

By contrast, the Olympus lacks face detection and uses a simpler AF system, which may struggle in fast-paced or low-contrast situations. Its continuous shooting speed isn’t specified but is effectively negligible compared to modern standards, limiting its utility for sports and wildlife.

From our testing, Canon’s shutter speed options are more flexible, reaching as fast as 1/2000 sec, useful for freezing motion outdoors, while Olympus tops out at 1/1000 sec.

Display and User Interface: Eyes on the Action

Your interaction with camera menus and displays directly impacts shooting enjoyment and speed.

The Canon’s optical viewfinder is a strong advantage outdoors under bright conditions, allowing more reliable composition without struggling with LCD glare. Both cameras have fixed, non-touch displays with basic resolution, adequate for framing but less refined for reviewing photos or adjusting fine settings.

Both cameras offer basic exposure modes without priority or fully manual control, focusing on simplicity for casual users.

Durability and Build Quality: Ready for the Elements?

Durability is a considerable factor, especially for travel or outdoor photographers.

The Olympus Stylus 550WP proudly sports weather sealing, making it resilient against light rain and dust ingress - excellent for hiking, beach trips, or casual water sports. However, it is not waterproof or shockproof.

The Canon A1400 has no weather sealing, meaning exposure to moisture or dust must be cautious. That said, its straightforward build and AA batteries lend it field convenience (replace batteries anywhere).

Video Capabilities: Capturing Moving Moments

For many users, decent video recording is now expected.

The Canon A1400 delivers a clear edge with HD 720p video, a modest upgrade that makes footage suitable for casual YouTube or family memories with decent clarity and compression efficiency.

Meanwhile, the Olympus only manages VGA (640 × 480) resolution video in legacy Motion JPEG format, offering dated and lower quality output.

Neither camera supports external microphones or advanced video features like 4K or frame rate flexibility. If video is important to you, the Canon is the better choice here.

Battery Life and Storage: Keeping You Shooting Longer

No one wants to run out of juice mid-trip or struggle with inaccessible storage cards.

The Canon’s dependence on 2 AA batteries may seem archaic, but offers convenience since you can swap batteries almost anywhere globally, a huge plus if you're travelling far from power sources. However, 150 shots per set is low by today's standards.

The Olympus uses proprietary batteries and supports multiple storage types, including xD-Picture Card (now obsolete). This can complicate storage media availability and cost, though the camera also supports microSD for convenience.

Sample Images and Real-World Use Cases

See the accompanying gallery showcasing the cameras’ output in various lighting conditions and subjects.

Canon A1400 screen back Olympus 550WP front Olympus 550WP screen back

• Portraits: The Canon’s higher resolution and face detection make skin tones more natural and sharper, with smoother background bokeh due to wider aperture.
• Landscapes: Canon’s higher resolution captures more detail, but both struggle slightly with dynamic range; Olympus delivers cleaner skies at base ISO.
• Macro: Canon’s close focusing lets you explore details; Olympus’s 7 cm minimum distance is modest but usable.
• Low Light/Night: Noise is evident on both; Canon better balances ISO range but can be blurry without stabilization.
• Action and Sports: Neither camera excels here, but Canon’s faster shutter and AF system yield better keepers.

Comprehensive Performance Ratings

Here are our consolidated scores based on objective testing and user experience:

Genre-Specific Strengths Considering Photography Types

Price-to-Performance: What Are You Really Getting?

• Canon PowerShot A1400: Around $109 new (discontinued but available used). It offers better image resolution, face detection AF, and HD video in a compact package with AA battery convenience. This makes it attractive for beginners or casual users who want simple operation but decent image quality. The lack of stabilization and lower build durability are downsides to note.

• Olympus Stylus 550WP: Priced roughly $399 at launch and now a premium used niche, this camera appeals to adventure photographers prioritizing rugged weather sealing. Despite its lower resolution, simpler AF, and older video specs, its durability may justify the extra cost for outdoor use. Digital stabilization is rudimentary but better than none.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Camera for You

If you seek:

• A budget-friendly camera with better image quality and face detection for portrait and everyday photography - Canon PowerShot A1400 is a compelling choice.
• A more rugged compact with weather sealing to accompany your outdoor adventures where durability is mandatory - Olympus Stylus 550WP is your pick, but at a cost to image detail and video quality.

Both cameras share technical limitations typical of small sensor compacts from their era, such as no RAW support, limited manual controls, and modest autofocus speeds. Neither is a perfect fit for professional work but serve well as simple, accessible cameras for those starting or supplementing a more advanced kit.

Getting Started and Making It Yours

• Try hands-on testing or rent to feel which fits your grip and shooting style.
• Pair your camera with an appropriate memory card (SD types for Canon; microSD or xD for Olympus).
• For the Canon A1400, stock up on quality AA NiMH rechargeable batteries for cost-effective power.
• Experiment with different lighting and subjects to familiarize yourself with each camera’s strengths.
• Explore basic photo editing software to compensate for image noise or exposure limitations.

We hope this in-depth comparison helps you make a well-rounded choice - capturing your unique vision is just a camera away. Happy shooting!

Image credits: All images © respective manufacturers and original review sources.