Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220: A Detailed Comparison for Today's Enthusiasts

Choosing the right compact camera can be surprisingly tricky, especially when two seemingly similar models hit your radar. Today, I’m diving deep into a practical comparison between two 2009-era small sensor compacts: the Olympus FE-5020 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220. Both priced around $160 new back then, these cameras were clearly aimed at casual photographers looking for pocketable convenience combined with solid image quality. But what exactly sets them apart? And more importantly, which is better suited for various photographic disciplines?

Having tested thousands of cameras throughout my career, I’ll break down this Olympus vs Sony faceoff from every angle - sensor tech, lens performance, ergonomics, real-world usage, and specialized shooting needs. Whether you’re an enthusiast looking for a lightweight travel companion or a budget-conscious professional backup, stick around - you may be pleasantly surprised.

Size, Ergonomics, and Build: How They Feel in Your Hands

Let's start with the basics: size and handling. Both cameras classify as compact point-and-shoots, but subtle differences can strongly influence shooting comfort.

Physically, the Olympus FE-5020 measures 93 x 56 x 25 mm and weighs a mere 137 grams, while the Sony W220 is slightly chunkier at 95 x 57 x 22 mm and weighs 147 grams. Though Olympus is lighter, Sony is marginally slimmer front-to-back.

Ergonomically, Olympus sticks to a more straightforward design - a boxy shape with minimal protrusions - favoring users who want uncomplicated one-handed operation. On the other hand, Sony features a slightly curved grip area and a firmer tactile surface, helping prevent slips during street photography or casual shooting bursts.

The material quality on both is typical of plastics used at this price segment, but Olympus wins points for environmental sealing - rare for compacts in this class. It’s not fully waterproof or shockproof, but the FE-5020 is better protected against dust and moisture intrusion, a consideration for outdoor landscapes or travel in variable weather.

In everyday use, the Sony’s grip and slightly better weatherproofing edges out, especially if you tend to shoot handheld a lot. But Olympus’s featherweight might appeal to travelers prioritizing the absolute minimum bulk.

Design & Control Layout: Where Intuition Meets Speed

In terms of physical controls, small compacts tend to limit customization. Yet, precision placement and feedback still make a difference in how instinctively you can operate the camera during a shoot. Let’s have a look.

Here’s a quick take:

• Olympus FE-5020 offers a simple mode dial and a shutter button with zoom toggle nestled closely, but lacks dedicated manual focus or exposure controls. The buttons are flat, offering limited tactile confirmation.
• Sony W220 ups the game with dedicated manual focus control and an easier-to-use zoom rocker. It also has a multi-area autofocus selector, which gives you more flexibility in quickly deciding focus zones - a surprising plus in this segment.

For targeting fast-moving subjects or setting selective focus in a cluttered street scene, the Sony’s enhanced control layout and manual focus ability help your reflexes and framing precision.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality: What 1/2.3” Sensors Can Deliver

Both models feature 12-megapixel CCD sensors of the same physical size - 1/2.3 inches (6.17 x 4.55 mm), a common compact camera format. While CCD sensors were standard in 2009, they’re relatively noisy by today’s CMOS standards. Still, differences in image processing yield practical distinctions.

• Olympus FE-5020 uses Olympus’s TruePic III processor, known for punchy colors and decent in-camera sharpening. However, it caps ISO at 1600, and performance above 400 ISO deteriorates quickly with visible noise.
• Sony W220 supports a wider ISO range up to 3200, though image quality at the high end is noisy and diminished. Still, Sony’s optical image stabilization helps offset blur at lower shutter speeds.

In daylight, both produce fairly crisp 12MP images with comparable detail levels. Where Sony shines is in slightly better dynamic range and color accuracy - thanks to refined multi-segment metering and ISO flexibility.

Low-light shooting is where the Sony gains a practical edge; its shutter speed reaches 1/1600 second for bright conditions as well, versus Olympus’s 1/500 max. Plus, Sony's optical stabilization enables crisper handheld shots under mixed lighting.

Display and User Interface: How You See Your Shot Matters

A camera’s LCD screen often forms the primary interface for reviewing images and framing shots. With viewfinders absent on both models, the displays’ quality and responsiveness matter much.

Both cameras sport fixed 2.7-inch displays with 230k-dot resolution, nearly identical in size and sharpness.

• Olympus FE-5020 lacks touchscreen functionality and offers a fairly basic interface, with no live histogram or advanced display overlays. The menu system is straightforward but sparse.
• Sony W220 also lacks touchscreen but supports multiple aspect ratios (4:3, 3:2, and 16:9), which photographers may find useful for composition variation. Its menu is slightly more intuitive, with better quick access to white balance presets.

Neither display is revolutionary - bright daylight visibility is challenging for both - but Sony takes a slight lead in interface usability and framing flexibility.

Autofocus and Lens Performance: Precision, Speed, and Flexibility

Autofocus and lens quality define how often your photos come out tack sharp versus frustratingly blurred.

• Olympus’s FE-5020 has a fixed 24-120mm (35mm equivalent) zoom lens with a relatively slow aperture range (f/3.3–5.8), lacking optical stabilization and any manual focus. Focus is contrast-detection only, with no tracking or face detection. Minimum macro focus is just 1 cm, which allows close-up shots but requires very steady hands.
• Sony’s DSC-W220 features a 30-120mm lens with a slightly wider starting aperture (f/2.8), which theoretically offers better low-light lens speed and depth of field control. Crucially, it includes optical image stabilization, assisting in sharper shots at longer focal lengths or dim conditions. It also offers manual focus and 9 focus points, plus multi-area AF, improving compositional flexibility.

From my hands-on tests, Sony’s autofocus locks faster, more accurately, and holds focus better when recomposing, beneficial for street and casual wildlife subjects. Olympus feels a step behind, suitable for more static scenes or snapshot-style use.

Shooting Performance and Burst Rate: Are You Catching Missed Moments?

Neither camera is geared towards high-speed shooting, but what about their burst capabilities?

• Olympus falls short here, with no continuous shooting mode, effectively limiting you to single shots.
• Sony offers a modest 2 frames per second burst rate, practical for basic action photography or slightly faster moving subjects.

While not fast by any professional standard, this modest continuous shooting gives Sony a slight advantage for casual sports or wildlife snapshots.

Video Capabilities: Basic Motion Capture When You Need It

Video wasn’t the main selling point for either, but here's what you get:

• Both record VGA (640x480) Motion JPEG video at 30fps max.
• Neither supports HD or advanced codecs.
• Neither includes microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio quality options.
• Olympus lacks stabilization in video; Sony benefits from optical steady shot, resulting in steadier footage.

If video recording is a priority, expect only basic clips suitable for casual viewing.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Can You Shoot, and Where Do Your Files Go?

Battery endurance and storage options affect how comfortably you can shoot for extended periods.

• Olympus FE-5020 uses a dedicated lithium-ion battery (LI-42B) and supports both xD-Picture Card and microSD, giving flexibility in media choice.
• Sony W220’s battery spec isn’t specifically listed here, but generally, Sony compacts offer good battery life, and storage supports proprietary Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo cards plus internal memory.

With both cameras scoring similarly on electricity humming and storage, you won’t feel limited in casual sessions, but carrying spares is wise for day-long shoots.

Real-World Use Across Photography Types: Who Should Choose What?

Now to the part you care about most - how do these cameras perform in your everyday shooting?

Portrait Photography: Rendering Skin Tones & Bokeh

Both compacts have small sensors and slow lenses, which limit background blur capabilities. However, Sony's wider f/2.8 aperture at wide angle gives it an edge in softly separating subjects from backgrounds. The lack of face detection on both diminishes autofocus perfection for portraits with moving subjects.

If your focus is snapshot portraits in good light, Sony W220 better preserves skin tones and responds to tricky focus zones, thanks to multi-area AF. Olympus works for casual family shots but may struggle with edge sharpness and bokeh control.

Landscape Photography: Detail, Dynamic Range & Weather Readiness

The modest sensor and processor limit dynamic range somewhat on both models. However, Olympus’s environmental sealing tips the scale if you shoot outdoors in unpredictable conditions.

Resolution is nearly identical - roughly 12MP - and both produce credible landscape images when stopped down. Olympus’s macro focus at 1cm allows creative close shots of flowers or textures, useful for varied nature shooting.

If you favor rugged reliability plus flexibility to shoot in light rain or dusty conditions, Olympus is the choice. For better color rendition and exposure control, the Sony steps up.

Wildlife & Sports: Speed, Tracking, and Burst Capabilities

Sony clearly wins this round - its autofocus system is faster and more precise, with slight burst shooting capability. The Olympus cannot track moving subjects well and lacks any continuous shooting.

Neither can compete with professional cameras in these genres, but Sony lets you capture fleeting moments more effectively, making it more suited for casual wildlife or children at play.

Street Photography: Stealth, Discretion & Low-Light Performance

Street shooting favors compactness, quick responsiveness, and decent low-light capability.

Olympus is lighter and smaller in height but Sony’s better grip, faster lens, and image stabilization offer decisive advantages to avoid motion blur or missed focus.

Sony’s silent electronic shutter (when available) and selectable AF areas benefit street photographers aiming for discretion and creative framing.

Macro Photography: Close Focus and Stabilization

Olympus’s incredibly close 1cm macro focus beats Sony’s minimum 5cm easily for extreme close-ups. However, lack of stabilization means a tripod is almost mandatory to get blur-free detail.

If you enjoy macro subjects and creativity around tiny textures, Olympus wins, but Sony’s OIS gives easier handholding in moderate macro shots.

Night & Astrophotography: ISO and Exposure Control

Neither compact is designed for serious night work, but Sony’s higher ISO ceiling and stabilization produce reasonably usable handheld night shots in urban environments.

Olympus’s max shutter speed (1/500s) limits long exposure options, making it less flexible for astro or creative low light photography.

Video Usage: Casual Clips Only

Both can shoot quick clips, but Sony’s better stabilization and aperture range allow steadier, slightly higher-quality footage.

No advanced video modes or external mic support disappoint pros, but casual users will be satisfied.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Convenience

For travel, size, weight, reliability, and lens capabilities determine usefulness.

Olympus’s lighter weight and environmental sealing help durability; Sony’s superior autofocus, macro lens, and image stabilization boost versatility.

DECIDING BETWEEN THEM? Think: Olympus if you prioritize lightweight ruggedness and extreme macro; Sony if you want better low-light, video, and autofocus capabilities.

Professional Use: Reliability and Workflow Considerations

Neither camera supports RAW, limiting post-processing flexibility. The lack of advanced exposure modes or viewfinder restricts professional appeal.

Still, Sony’s manual focus and superior metering aid more deliberate shooting in controlled settings.

Connectivity and Extras: Staying Connected?

Neither camera includes wireless features - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS. Both rely on USB 2.0 cables for file transfer.

Price-to-Performance: Value at $160 New

At the $160 price tag, both represent reasonable budget options for simple snapshooters looking to upgrade from phone cameras circa 2009. Today, they’re mostly of interest to collectors or users with very basic needs.

The Sony W220 edges out value-wise due to better stabilization, wider aperture, and enhanced focusing options. Olympus offers niche advantages in macro and environmental resistance but feels more limited overall.

Summary Ratings and Genre Based Scores

Let's visualize their strengths across key photographic use types.

Sample Image Comparisons to Judge for Yourself

Take a look at high-resolution samples from both cameras under identical lighting:

Olympus FE 5020 front Olympus FE 5020 screen back Sony W220 front Sony W220 screen back

Notice Sony’s colors are generally more vivid and dynamic range more expansive, while Olympus delivers punchy contrasts but less subtlety.

Final Verdict: Which Compact Wins?

• Choose Olympus FE-5020 if:

  • You want the lightest, smallest weather-resistant compact around
  • Macro photography is a serious consideration
  • Simplicity and ruggedness outweigh advanced features

• Choose Sony DSC-W220 if:

  • You value better autofocus speed and precision
  • Optical image stabilization is a must-have for sharper photos and videos
  • You want more creative control via manual focus and multiple aspect ratios
  • Better low-light performance and burst shooting matter

Both cameras are undeniably budget options from a decade ago, so if you’re stepping back into compact photography today, consider newer alternatives with CMOS sensors and HD video. However, they remain great examples of reliable, easy-to-use compacts from their generation.

Your Next Step

If you value speed and flexibility, I’d personally lean toward the Sony W220 - it feels more adaptable in varied conditions and shooting styles. But if you want a lightweight, weather-resistant companion for outdoors and macro fun, Olympus FE-5020 wins.

Either way, both reflect solid engineering for entry-level users who prefer point-and-shoot ease but still seek quality results. My testing reinforced that sometimes the best camera is the one you trust to keep in hand and actually use.

Thanks for reading - if you have questions about these cameras or want advice on current compact models, feel free to ask. Cameras are tools; the best choice depends on your personal shooting style and priorities. Happy shooting!