Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A37

Following is a extended assessment of the Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A37, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the FE-4030 (14MP) and the A37 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the FE-4030 (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor size.

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The FE-4030 was released 3 years before the A37 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus FE-4030 being a Compact camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the FE-4030 grades against the A37 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus FE-4030 and Sony SLT-A37. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus FE-4030 Gallery and Sony A37 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus FE-4030 has physical measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs) and the Sony A37 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

See the Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A37 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the FE-4030 compared to the A37.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FE-4030 and A37 is 95 and 67 respectively.

Quite often, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes only by checking a spec sheet. The image here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the FE-4030 and A37.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FE-4030 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A37 will give extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged FE-4030 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.