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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus 550WP

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus 550WP Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Launched November 2003
  • Later Model is Olympus E-3
Olympus 550WP
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-5.0) lens
  • 167g - 94 x 62 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Additionally Known as mju 550WP
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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus 550WP Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus E-1 versus Olympus 550WP, former being a Pro DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are produced by Olympus. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and 550WP (10MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and 550WP (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-1 was announced 6 years before the 550WP and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Olympus 550WP being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-1 scores vs the 550WP with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Olympus 550WP

 E-1 550WP 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus

Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Olympus E-1

 550WP E-1 
ReleasedJanuary 2009November 2003More recent by 62 months
Display sizing2.5"1.8"Larger display (+0.7")
Display resolution230k134kCrisper display (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Olympus 550WP

 E-1 550WP 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus 550WP Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-1 has external dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") and a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) and the Olympus 550WP has proportions of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-1 versus Olympus 550WP in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-1 and the 550WP.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus 550WP size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-1 and 550WP is 59 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus 550WP top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus 550WP Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to imagine the gap in sensor measurements purely by going through specs. The photograph here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-1 and 550WP.

All in all, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-1 having a larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus 550WP will provide more detail with its extra 5 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older E-1 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus 550WP sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus 550WP Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus 550WP Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 Portrait photography factors
Olympus 550WP Portrait photography factors
46
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
19
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-1
Street photography with Olympus 550WP
57
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
lighter than competitors (735 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
61
has image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus 550WP as a Sports photography camera
40
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
max shutter speed is low (1/1,000s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 Travel photography factors
Olympus 550WP Travel photography factors
47
lighter than competitors (735 grams)
weather proof
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
55
weather proof
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography features
Olympus 550WP Landscape photography features
46
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
tiny screen (1.8 inch)
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (5MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.5")
no manual mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 Vlogging features
Olympus 550WP Vlogging features
9
no video shooting
25
has image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus 550WP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Olympus 550WP
 Olympus E-1Olympus Stylus 550WP
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-1 Olympus Stylus 550WP
Also referred to as - mju 550WP
Class Pro DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2003-11-29 2009-01-07
Body design Large SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 5MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 2560 x 1920 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 38-114mm (3.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.0
Macro focusing range - 7cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 1.8" 2.5"
Resolution of display 134 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution None 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 735 gr (1.62 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $1,700 $399