Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A550

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus FE-5010 versus Sony A550, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the FE-5010 (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is fairly similar but the FE-5010 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The FE-5010 was revealed 11 months prior to the A550 so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus FE-5010 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the FE-5010 scores versus the A550 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus FE-5010 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The full galleries are provided at Olympus FE-5010 Gallery and Sony A550 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus FE-5010 has got exterior dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 130 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Sony A550 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus FE-5010 versus Sony A550 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the FE-5010 versus the A550.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FE-5010 and A550 is 96 and 63 respectively.

More often than not, it's difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading a spec sheet. The picture below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-5010 and A550.

As you can see, each of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FE-5010 having a tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony A550 will offer you extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged FE-5010 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.