Olympus FE-5010 vs. Sony A200: A Hands-On Comparative Review for Photographers

Choosing the right camera is never as simple as glancing at specs online. In over 15 years of rigorous field testing, I've learned that the subtle interplay between sensor technology, ergonomics, autofocus capabilities, and image quality ultimately defines whether a camera excels for your photographic ambitions or falls short. Today, we're putting two markedly different contenders head-to-head: the Olympus FE-5010 compact from 2009 and Sony's entry-level DSLR, the A200. Despite their vintage, these models still resonate with budget-conscious enthusiasts interested in foundational photography gear.

I spent weeks revisiting both cameras, replicating real-world scenarios across all major photographic disciplines. I'll break down how each performs in portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and more - plus dive deep into specs like sensor technology, lens options, autofocus accuracy, and usability. Ultimately, this is about clarifying which model suits distinct users, from casual shooters craving pocketable convenience to beginners seeking a more serious introduction to DSLR shooting.

Let’s begin with their physical presence and handling.

Size, Ergonomics, and Build Quality: Pocketable Convenience vs. DSLR Comfort

The Olympus FE-5010 is a quintessential compact, sporting a petite 96 x 57 x 21 mm chassis that weighs a mere 130 grams - truly pocketable. In contrast, the Sony A200 embodies classic DSLR heft and heftiness, commanding 131 x 99 x 71 mm and 572 grams. Holding and maneuvering one after the other, the size gap is like comparing a sparrow to a hawk.

The Olympus’s compact body is alluring for travel and street photographers who prize discreteness and near-instant readiness. That said, it sacrifices direct tactile controls for minimalism, limiting quick adjustments. The Sony A200 compensates with a robust grip and more traditional DSLR ergonomics, ergonomically designed to sit comfortably over extended shoots, and making manual control a tactile affair.

Looking across their surfaces from top-down views reveals how differently each camera prioritizes control layouts.

The FE-5010 is streamlined with minimalist buttons and a small two-point control wheel - fine for point-and-shoot casual use, but insufficient for those who crave physical dials or customizable buttons. The A200 sports dedicated exposure compensation buttons, a mode dial offering manual, aperture-priority, shutter-priority, and program modes, plus more pronounced command buttons. This reflects Sony’s positioning: an entry DSLR aiming to educate enthusiasts hungry to master exposure triangle fundamentals.

Build quality is serviceable on both but highlights their market segments. The Olympus includes basic environmental sealing - an unexpected advantage in a compact - yet overall chassis materials feel plastic-y. The Sony’s body, while not weather-sealed, is more substantial and reliable. Neither camera scores on ruggedness but both withstand typical shooting conditions.

Sensor Technology: Small Sensor Compact vs. APS-C DSLR Dynamics

Sensor size and design are pivotal in shaping image rendering, low-light capabilities, and noise performance. The Olympus FE-5010 features a 1/2.3" CCD sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm (27.7 mm²) at 12 megapixels - fairly standard for compacts of its era. By contrast, the Sony A200 incorporates a considerably larger APS-C sized CCD sensor, 23.6 x 15.8 mm (372.9 mm²) at 10 megapixels, boasting over ten times the surface area.

Larger sensor area translates to bigger photosites, which typically enhances light gathering and improves dynamic range. While the FE-5010’s sensor fares well for daylight shooting, its small size fundamentally limits noise control and fine texture capture at higher ISOs.

Sony’s APS-C sensor delivers notably better color depth and tonality. DxOMark ranks its color depth at 22.3 bits and dynamic range at 11.3 EV, substantially outperforming typical compacts. This means smoother gradients in skies, richer skin tones, and better preservation of highlight and shadow detail under challenging illumination.

Despite the extra 2 MP in the Olympus, resolution advantage is marginal considering sensor size disparities. The smaller sensor also means higher depth of field, which can hinder background blur but make overall photography more forgiving for novices.

The Real-World Shooting Experience: Autofocus, Controls, and Image Quality

Autofocus Systems
The Olympus FE-5010 relies on contrast-detection autofocus limited to a single-center AF point, no continuous tracking, face or eye detection, and no manual focus option. It’s adequate for casual snapshots but ill-suited for fast-moving subjects or precision focusing required in macro or wildlife photography.

Conversely, the Sony A200 features a 9-point phase-detection autofocus module, including center weighting and selective focus area options. It supports continuous AF during burst shooting and offers manual focus override - a boon for environments demanding precise control such as portraits and macro.

I tested both in wildlife and sports settings. The Olympus lagged, yielding frequent focus hunting and missed shots on moving birds at feeders. The Sony tracked reasonably well for an entry DSLR of its age, though modern models outperform it, of course.

Control Interface & Usability
Both cameras have fixed 2.7-inch rear LCDs with 230k-dot resolution, adequate but non-touch and non-articulating, limiting compositional flexibility.

The FE-5010’s simplistic menu aligns with its point-and-shoot target market, lacking manual exposure modes or custom white balance - dream features for advanced photographers. By contrast, the A200 opens up creative freedom with full manual exposure controls, exposure compensation, and custom white balance - all accessible through a traditional DSLR interface.

Image Stabilization
A standout feature of the Olympus FE-5010 is sensor-shift image stabilization. For a compact, this is a valuable addition, aiding low-light handheld shooting or telephoto at 180 mm equivalent focal length. The Sony A200, despite having sensor-based stabilization support with some lenses, requires compatible stabilized lenses (and many early Minolta Alpha mount lenses lack it), making Olympus more straightforward for stabilization novices.

Versatility in Lens Ecosystem: Fixed Convenience vs. Expandable Power

A fixed lens versus interchangeable lenses is a foundational choice shaping photographic flexibility.

The Olympus FE-5010’s lens covers 36-180 mm equivalent focal length (5× zoom) with an aperture range of f/3.5-5.6. This suffices for general snapshots, casual portraits, and moderate telephoto work. Its close-focus macro ability at 3 cm is respectable for close-up attempts but remains constrained by sensor limitations and absence of manual focus tweaking.

The Sony A200 uses the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount, compatible with over 140 legacy lenses - a staggering advantage for enthusiasts wanting to build a versatile kit. From ultra-wide-angle primes to telephoto zooms and specialized macros, the choice is rich. With a 1.5x crop factor, focal lengths scale accordingly for telephoto needs - great news for wildlife and sports shooters.

In practice, I found the Sony’s lens system far more empowering to experiment creatively across genres, while the Olympus’s fixed lens kept the user locked in but delivered commendable image quality within its range.

Specialized Photography Disciplines: Testing Each Camera’s Strengths and Limits

Portrait Photography
Portrait work demands excellent skin tone reproduction, pleasing bokeh, and precise eye detection or focusing. The Sony A200 excels here, with larger APS-C sensor delivering creamy background blur and richer color gradations. Its ability to use fast primes such as 50 mm f/1.7 or 85 mm f/1.4 lenses is a major asset. Manual focus and exposure controls further refine the portraitist’s craft.

By contrast, Olympus’s small sensor yields nearly everything in focus at moderate zoom due to deep depth of field, limiting background separation. No face or eye detection autofocus compounds difficulties for tight portraits. Skin tones remain decent in good light but lack the subtlety seen on the A200.

Landscape Photography
Landscape shooters seek high resolution, wide dynamic range, and ideally weather-sealing.

Despite the FE-5010’s environmental sealing, its small sensor caps dynamic range and low-light capture fidelity - critical for landscapes at sunrise or sunset. Its 12 MP resolution ensures somewhat detailed images but suffers from noise upon pushing ISO above 100.

The Sony A200’s APS-C sensor shines here with superior dynamic range and color depth to recover shadows and preserve highlight detail, boosting post-processing latitude. Weather sealing is absent but the camera’s robust build, paired with protective lens hoods, supports outdoor shooting well.

Wildlife and Sports Photography
Autofocus speed, burst shooting frame rate, and telephoto reach define success in capturing fleeting action.

Olympus’s FE-5010 autofocus struggles to keep pace with fast creatures; no continuous AF or tracking means many missed moments. Its moderate five frames per second continuous shooting burst is minimal and tethered to slow AF.

Sony A200 offers a 3 fps burst with phase-detection AF and nine AF points aiding better subject tracking - though still modest by modern standards. Its compatibility with telephoto zooms or primes extends reach considerably, helping frame distant animals or sports players.

Street Photography
Portability, discretion, and quick response are essential. Here, the FE-5010’s light and compact frame is unmatched; it slips in pockets and is less intimidating to subjects. Rapid startup and silent-ish operation allow candid shots.

The Sony DSLR’s bulk and shutter click can draw attention, potentially hindering street candidness. Battery life is also more limited for day-long strolls without spare batteries.

Macro Photography
The Olympus’s macro focus at 3 cm facilitates decent close-ups for casual flower or insect photos but lacks fine-tuning controls.

Sony’s extensive lens options include dedicated macro primes and zooms with manual focusing fine control, allowing sharper and more artistic macro captures.

Night and Astro Photography
Limited high ISO performance and fixed lens on Olympus restrict astrophotography potential.

Sony A200’s APS-C sensor, with a maximum native ISO of 3200, paired with manual controls, makes it more viable for low-light and astro shots - albeit not as effective as modern mirrorless cameras with back-illuminated sensors.

Video Capabilities
Neither camera excels here. FE-5010 shoots low-res VGA video at 30 fps with Motion JPEG compression - archaic by today's standards.

Sony A200 lacks video recording functionality altogether, focusing entirely on still photography.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity: Practical Considerations

Olympus FE-5010 uses a proprietary lithium-ion LI-42B battery and accepts xD-Picture Cards or microSD via adapter. Its battery life data is sketchy, but compacts typically last a few hundred shots, sufficient for casual use.

Sony A200 employs the NP-FM500H battery, offering longer shooting durations typical of DSLRs, paired with CompactFlash storage - a legacy but still high-performance storage medium.

Connectivity on both is limited: no built-in Wi-Fi, GPS, or HDMI outputs. USB 2.0 ports enable basic file transfer but no tethered shooting. This underlines their early digital nature before wireless integration became standard.

Putting It All Together: Performance Ratings and Genre-Specific Scores

After rigorous testing, the overall performance and genre suitability become clear.

Sony A200 obtains higher overall marks due to sensor size, manual control availability, lens ecosystem, and autofocus capabilities. The Olympus FE-5010’s strengths lie in portability and image stabilization.

Looking into detailed photographic discipline scoring:

• Portraits: Sony leads with better bokeh and manual focus
• Landscapes: Sony excels dynamic range; Olympus suitable for casual shooting
• Wildlife/Sports: Sony outpaces autofocus and burst needs
• Street: Olympus wins on stealth and pocketability
• Macro: Sony wins due to lens options and manual focus
• Night/Astro: Sony potential, Olympus limited
• Video: Olympus marginally better with basic video, Sony none
• Travel: Olympus excels lightweight carry, Sony better flexibility overall
• Professional Use: Sony for workflows demanding RAW and manual control

Real-World Sample Outputs: Visual Evidence

The best way to gauge difference is side-by-side image analysis.

Olympus FE 5010 front Olympus FE 5010 screen back Sony A200 front Sony A200 screen back

• Olympus photos appear sharper at base ISO daylight but flatten out in shadows.
• Sony photos deliver richer color rendition, finer detail rendition, and better bokeh.
• Low light scenarios decisively favor Sony with cleaner images and more exposure latitude.

Final Thoughts & Recommendations

Who Should Choose the Olympus FE-5010?

• Casual snapshot enthusiasts valuing ultra-compact form factor
• Travelers requiring lightweight gear with decent zoom and in-camera stabilization
• Budget buyers who prioritize simplicity over manual control or interchangeable lenses
• Street photographers focused on discretion
• Users undeterred by modest image quality compared to DSLRs

Who Should Opt for the Sony A200?

• Beginners stepping into creative photography needing manual override exposure modes
• Photographers wanting to build an expandable lens kit with ample legacy options
• Portrait, landscape, wildlife, and sports shooters needing superior autofocus and sensor performance
• Enthusiasts hungry for RAW capture and post-processing flexibility
• Users comfortable handling a bulkier DSLR for better image quality

Closing Perspective

After hands-on testing, I affirm the Sony A200 inherits much more potential for developing photographers wanting to grow skills and control. Its APS-C sensor and classic DSLR design eclipse the modest capabilities of the FE-5010 compact, whose strengths lie solely in portability and simplicity.

In the modern context where mirrorless systems dominate even entry-level, these models feel dated but represent important transitional cameras nonetheless. For collectors or those on a strict budget, the Olympus offers point-and-shoot convenience; for learners eager to “do more,” Sony A200 is the wiser investment.

I hope this deep dive clarifies each model's practical strengths and compromises so you can match a camera not just to your budget, but to your photographic journey.

Happy shooting!