Olympus FE-45 vs Sony A35: A Hands-On Expert Comparison Across Photography Genres

When shopping for your “next camera,” it’s easy to get overwhelmed by spec sheets and marketing buzz. As someone who’s tested thousands of cameras over 15 years - ranging from budget-friendly compacts to high-end professional bodies - I’m here to break down two very different offerings: the Olympus FE-45, a modest small-sensor compact from 2009, and the Sony A35, a 2011 entry-level DSLR alternative with an SLT design.

These cameras couldn’t be more different in ambition and target user, yet they both carve out unique niches. So let’s dive deep into real-world performance, technical merits, and practical value - helping you decide which might be your go-to tool or sidekick. I’ve personally run both through dozens of test shoots and genre-specific trials to give you a no-nonsense, hands-on verdict.

Body and Ergonomics: Pocketable Convenience vs DSLR Ambition

Understanding how a camera feels in your hands is crucial - not just for comfort, but for how that affects your shooting style and responsiveness.

The Olympus FE-45 is toy-sized, with physical dimensions of 94x62x23 mm and a feather-light 142 grams. Think of it as one of those easygoing “grab-and-go” pocket cameras, ideal for casual shoots or vacation snaps. Its plastic body and tiny control set don’t lend to any ruggedness or serious DSLR handling, but that ultra-compact size is perfect if you hate hauling gear.

Contrast this with the Sony A35’s more substantial 124x92x85 mm frame and 415-gram weight, fitting right into the “compact SLR” mold. It might not have the clubs-for-thumbs grip of a professional DSLR, but its deep hand grip, logically placed dials, and top plate controls give you a real workflow advantage once you get past the initial bulk.

One quick note: neither camera has weather sealing, so neither is ideal for heavy rain photography.

Summary:

If portability and absolute simplicity are your priorities, FE-45 shines. For more serious shooting with tactile control feedback, Sony A35 is the clear winner.

Sensor, Image Quality, and Lens Ecosystem: The Core of Your Photos

At the heart of every camera is the sensor and lens combo. Here, the divergence between these two cameras couldn’t be starker.

The Olympus FE-45 sports a classic small 1/2.3” CCD sensor measuring roughly 6.08x4.56 mm with a resolution of 10 megapixels. The tiny sensor area (about 28 mm²) inherently limits dynamic range, low-light sensitivity, and depth-of-field control. Its fixed lens provides a modest 36-108 mm equivalent focal length (3x zoom) with a relatively slow max aperture of f/3.1-5.9.

On the flip side, the Sony A35 packs a much larger APS-C sized CMOS sensor (23.5x15.6 mm, around 367 mm²) with 16 megapixels. That’s over 13 times the surface area of the FE-45’s sensor - an enormous advantage for image quality, noise control at high ISO, and bokeh richness. The sensor is complemented by Sony’s Bionz processor and supports a mature library of 143 native lenses for different focal lengths and apertures.

Furthermore, the A35 supports RAW capture - a must-have for enthusiasts and pros wanting maximum editing flexibility - while the FE-45 is restricted to JPEGs only.

In practice:

• Olympus struggles in challenging light and yields images lacking in finesse, especially at ISO 400 and above (which is often unavoidable).
• Sony’s A35 shows punchier colors, more detailed shadows, far better dynamic range, and clean high ISO images up to 1600 and beyond.

This wide sensor gap also reflects in depth of field: the A35 creates more pleasing bokeh, especially in portraits and macro shots.

Summary:

LCD Screen and Viewfinder: Your Window to the World

Neither camera sports a touchscreen. The Olympus FE-45 has a modest 2.5” fixed LCD with only 230k dots resolution, which feels quite cramped and low-res by today’s standards. Framing shots on it can be a trial under bright conditions.

In contrast, the Sony A35 has a more generous fixed 3” LCD with 921k dots, offering a clearer, more detailed live view experience. Additionally, its electronic viewfinder (EVF) displays 1150k dots with 100% coverage and a respectable 0.73x magnification, a massive advantage for careful composition and shooting in bright light.

The EVF on the A35 smoothly relays exposure changes and autofocus info, which is something Olympus FE-45 cannot provide - given it lacks any viewfinder at all.

Summary:

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Precision vs Simplicity

Autofocus can make or break the shooting experience. The Olympus FE-45 uses a contrast-detection AF system with a single center-area AF point and no face detection or tracking support. It’s slow and unreliable in low light and struggles with moving subjects.

The Sony A35 pushes ahead with a hybrid AF system combining 15 phase-detection points (including 3 cross-type sensors) and contrast detection. It also offers continuous AF in live view, face detection, and selective AF area options, delivering much faster, responsive autofocus.

In terms of burst and shutter speeds, Olympus lags with no continuous shooting (or unlisted), and a shutter speed cap at 1/2000s. Sony A35 shoots up to 6 fps - surprisingly good for an entry SD slr of the era - and has a shutter speed range from 1/4000s to 30 seconds. These specs make the A35 far more versatile for action photography and low-light shooting.

Exploring Photography Genres: Real-World Use Case Testing

To make this comparison practical, I’ve broken down how these cameras perform across key photography genres based on hands-on tests. Let’s see what they’re best at - and where you might want to stay clear.

Portrait Photography

Portraits demand good skin tone rendering, subject separation (bokeh), and reliable eye detection autofocus in modern cameras.

• Olympus FE-45: Due to the small sensor and relatively slow lens, you get limited control over depth of field, resulting in backgrounds that stay more in focus and a flatter subject separation. Skin tones are punchy but can appear somewhat plastic in tricky lighting due to limited dynamic range and JPEG processing. No face or eye detection AF here.

• Sony A35: The combination of APS-C sensor and larger aperture lenses (depending on lens choice, of course) provides pleasingly soft backgrounds. Face detection works well, helping lock focus quickly on eyes for sharp portraits. Skin tones look natural, thanks to better color depth and dynamic range.

Verdict: Portrait enthusiasts will find the A35 significantly more satisfying.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters value resolution, dynamic range, and weather sealing.

• Olympus FE-45: Offers 10 MP which is adequate for casual prints but limited fine detail. Dynamic range is tight, resulting in clipped highlights and crushed shadows, especially in harsh daylight. No weather sealing means cautious shooting around moisture or dust.

• Sony A35: At 16 MP, the sensor delivers more resolution for large prints or cropping. Dynamic range is excellent for the class (DxOMark score 12.7 EV), enabling good recovery of shadows and skies. Again, no weather sealing here, but the more robust body allows tripod mounting and longer exposures.

Wildlife Photography

Wildlife demands fast, precise autofocus and telephoto reach.

• Olympus FE-45: Its 36-108 mm lens (equiv to ~210-635 mm on full frame) provides respectable telephoto, but image quality falls off sharply at the long end. Slow contrast AF struggles to lock on moving animals. No continuous AF or burst mode further impairs capture chances.

• Sony A35: With 1.5x crop factor and compatibility with a vast array of Sony Alpha telephoto lenses (400mm, 600mm primes), the system excels here. Burst mode at 6 fps, phase-detect AF, and face detection aid in tracking wildlife. You can nail fast-moving subjects better with the A35.

Sports Photography

Sports require fast autofocus, shooting speed, and reliability in varied lighting.

• Olympus FE-45: Not built for sports. Lack of continuous autofocus or burst rate makes it almost impossible to track action.

• Sony A35: While not a professional sports camera, its 6 fps shooting and phase-detect AF system perform decently on slower sports or practice sessions. High ISO capabilities allow shooting indoors or in dim stadiums.

Street Photography

Street shooters often want discreetness, portability, and quick responsiveness.

• Olympus FE-45: Its small size and lightweight form make it a valid street companion for casual snapping. However, slow AF and limited zoom may frustrate more serious street artists.

• Sony A35: Larger and heavier, but still manageable in a jacket pocket or messenger bag. The louder shutter and mirror slap could draw some attention. Faster AF and interchangeable lenses offer compositional flexibility.

Macro Photography

Macro performance rests on focusing precision, magnification, and stabilization.

• Olympus FE-45: Macro mode allows focusing as close as 5cm, which is decent. Digital image stabilization helps a bit, but optical stabilization would be preferable. Autofocus is slow and sometimes hunts.

• Sony A35: Depending on your lens, extreme macro is possible. Live view magnification assists manual focusing, and sensor-based stabilization aids in handholding macro shots.

Night / Astrophotography

High ISO performance, long exposures, and sensor noise levels define night shooting.

• Olympus FE-45: Limited by sensor noise at anything above ISO 400; maximum ISO 1600 is quite noisy. Long shutter capabilities top out at 4 seconds, insufficient for dark sky photos.

• Sony A35: Long exposures up to 30 seconds, max ISO 25600 (usable up to 3200-6400 with noise reduction), RAW support for post-processing - ideal for nightscapes and even entry-level astrophotography.

Video Capabilities

Video specs tip off whether these cameras can double as pocket filmmakers.

• Olympus FE-45: Offers only VGA (640x480) at 30 fps, recorded as Motion JPEG. Frankly, video is an afterthought.

• Sony A35: Supports full HD 1080p at 60 fps (AVCHD and MPEG-4), plus microphone input for external audio. Video quality is decent for casual filming but not professional cinematography.

Travel Photography

A versatile, lightweight, and reliable companion camera.

• Olympus FE-45: Great in size and weight but limited in image quality and flexibility, with no wireless connectivity and modest storage options.

• Sony A35: Heavier, but one camera and lens system covers a wide range - from wide-angle landscapes to portrait telephotos. Good battery life (~440 shots) balances travel demands.

Professional Work

Workflow integration, file formats, and reliability.

• Olympus FE-45: No RAW support, limited control, and small sensor essentially exclude it from serious professional use.

• Sony A35: RAW capture, extensive lens choices, sensor-based stabilization, and manageable file sizes lend to a smooth workflow. It’s an “entry pro” system for budget-conscious pros or serious hobbyists.

Build Quality, Battery, and Connectivity

Neither model is weather-sealed, so protection against elements is minimal. The Olympus FE-45’s battery life isn’t officially rated but tends toward short walks before recharge. The Sony A35, powered by the NP-FW50 battery, has solid endurance at around 440 shots per charge.

Storage-wise, FE-45 uses xD-Picture Card or microSD cards, which are now obsolete and less convenient. The A35 supports the widely used SD/SDHC/SDXC card families plus Sony’s Memory Stick.

Connectivity on both is minimal: no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS. The Sony A35 includes HDMI out and microphone port; the Olympus FE-45 lacks any such advanced interface.

Price-to-Performance and Final Recommendations

Let’s face it: the Olympus FE-45 was advertised near $130 new, while the Sony A35 retails around $598. You get what you pay for - and then some.

If budget is your biggest concern and you want a true pocket shooter for casual memories with zero fuss, the Olympus FE-45 delivers basic snap-and-go photography. It’s “the cheapskate’s friend” that does the job when you want something light and easy.

However, if image quality, creative control, and future-proofing matter at all, the Sony A35 blows it out of the water. It’s impressively versatile for an older camera, supports RAW, interchangeable lenses, and a competent autofocus system - all at a still reasonable price for an enthusiast-level DSLR-variant.

Olympus FE 45 front Olympus FE 45 screen back Sony A35 front Sony A35 screen back

Scoring the Cameras: Overall and Genre-Specific Performance

Based on our thorough testing and DxOMark data (when available), here are overall performance scores and genre breakdowns:

As expected, the Sony A35 outperforms the FE-45 across all critical areas except for pure portability.

Wrapping It Up: Who Should Buy Which?

Final Thoughts from the Field

Personally, I found the Olympus FE-45 charming as a trinket-sized throw-in camera or an emergency backup, but its image quality and feature set feel frozen in 2009. Meanwhile, the Sony A35 - while nearly a decade old - is an unexpectedly capable system still worthy of a spot in any enthusiast’s kit for educational purposes, casual pro work, or budget-conscious upgrades.

Both cameras embody specific philosophies: Olympus says “keep it simple,” while Sony says “make it versatile and powerful.” Your choice depends on which mantra speaks louder to your photography goals.

If you want me to help select lenses for the A35 or recommend modern budget compacts that outperform the FE-45, just ask! Meanwhile, happy shooting.