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Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A550

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Olympus FE-4000 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus FE-4000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.6-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Other Name is X-925
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced December 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A100
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Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A550 Overview

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Olympus FE-4000 versus Sony A550, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FE-4000 (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is pretty similar but the FE-4000 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The FE-4000 was unveiled 4 months prior to the A550 so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus FE-4000 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the FE-4000 grades vs the A550 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-4000 over the Sony A550

 FE-4000 A550 

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus FE-4000

 A550 FE-4000 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-4000 and Sony A550

 FE-4000 A550 
AnnouncedJuly 2009December 2009Similar generation
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus FE-4000 comes with outer measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Olympus FE-4000 versus Sony A550 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the FE-4000 versus the A550.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FE-4000 and A550 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reading technical specs. The visual underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the FE-4000 and A550.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FE-4000 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A550 will offer you greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
21
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
72
manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus FE-4000
Street photography with Sony A550
55
lighter than competition (136 grams)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus FE-4000
Sports photography with Sony A550
17
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
low battery (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Travel photography factors
Sony A550 Travel photography factors
62
lighter than competition (136g)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
52
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery (480 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Landscape photography info
Sony A550 Landscape photography info
28
relatively wide (26mm)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
66
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
low battery (480 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus FE-4000
Vlogging with Sony A550
28
relatively wide (26mm)
lighter than competition (136 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
no external mic support
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus FE-4000 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-4000 and Sony A550
 Olympus FE-4000Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus FE-4000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Also called X-925 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-07-22 2009-12-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 26-105mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.6-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Highest video resolution 640x480 None
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 136g (0.30 lbs) 632g (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 807
Other
Battery life - 480 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $130 $749