Olympus E-400 vs Sony A55

In this write-up, we are comparing the Olympus E-400 vs Sony A55, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the E-400 (10MP) and A55 (16MP) and the E-400 (Four Thirds) and A55 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-400 was manufactured 4 years prior to the A55 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-400 matches up vs the A55 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-400 & Sony SLT-A55. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-400 Gallery & Sony A55 Gallery.

If you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-400 comes with physical dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 435 grams (0.96 lbs) whilst the Sony A55 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-400 vs Sony A55 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-400 versus the A55.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-400 and A55 is 77 and 67 respectively.

In many cases, it is difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading through a spec sheet. The pic below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-400 and A55.

Clearly, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-400 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A55 will give you greater detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images far more aggressively. The more aged E-400 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.