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Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A550

Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28
Olympus FE-5010 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5010
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-180mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 130g - 96 x 57 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2009
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released December 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A100
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Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A550 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5010 over the Sony A550

 FE-5010 A550 

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus FE-5010

 A550 FE-5010 
ReleasedDecember 2009January 2009More modern by 11 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-5010 and Sony A550

 FE-5010 A550 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A550 size comparison

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

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
20
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
72
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Street photography info
Sony A550 Street photography info
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
lighter than competitors (130g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A550 as a Sports photography camera
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
terrible battery pack (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus FE-5010
Travel photography with Sony A550
60
lighter than competitors (130g)
weather proof
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (36mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
52
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (480 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Landscape photography features
Sony A550 Landscape photography features
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (36mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
66
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
terrible battery pack (480 shots)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Vlogging highlights
Sony A550 Vlogging highlights
28
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (130 grams)
wide angle not good (36mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
9
no video recording
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Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5010 and Sony A550
 Olympus FE-5010Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus FE-5010 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-01-07 2009-12-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 64 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 36-180mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.6 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed - 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 640x480 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 130 gr (0.29 lb) 632 gr (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 807
Other
Battery life - 480 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-42B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media xD-Picture Card (1GB, 2GB), microSD (MASD-1 is required) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $130 $749