Olympus E-1 vs Sony A550

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-1 vs Sony A550, one being a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and A550 (14MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and A550 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-1 was revealed 7 years earlier than the A550 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-1 matches up vs the A550 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-1 Gallery and Sony A550 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-1 comes with physical dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-1 vs Sony A550 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-1 versus the A550.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and A550 is 59 and 63 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements merely by viewing specifications. The graphic underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-1 and A550.

Plainly, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-1 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF harder and the Sony A550 will render extra detail because of its extra 9MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The older E-1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.