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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony W550

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Revealed February 2020
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Released July 2011
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony W550 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-M1 III and Sony W550, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and W550 (14MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and W550 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 III was introduced 8 years after the W550 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-M1 III scores against the W550 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Sony W550

 E-M1 III W550 
ReleasedFebruary 2020July 2011Newer by 105 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Olympus E-M1 III

 W550 E-M1 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Sony W550

 E-M1 III W550 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 III comes with exterior measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) while the Sony W550 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 III and Sony W550 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-M1 III compared to the W550.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony W550 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 III and W550 is 67 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to see the difference between sensor dimensions only by reading through specifications. The pic here might give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 III and W550.

Plainly, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 III using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-M1 III will give you extra detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The younger E-M1 III is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Portrait photography factors
Sony W550 Portrait photography factors
77
focusing manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
28
decent MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Street photography camera
Sony W550 as a Street photography camera
78
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
environment proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Sports photography camera
Sony W550 as a Sports photography camera
81
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (60.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
79
environment proof
has bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
good resolution (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
65
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Landscape photography info
Sony W550 Landscape photography info
81
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
two card slots
42
reasonably wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Vlogging camera
Sony W550 as a Vlogging camera
79
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
good video quality (4096 x 2160 pixels)
includes external microphone socket
29
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Sony W550
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Type Pro Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2020-02-11 2011-07-24
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic IX BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 121 9
Cross focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 60.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.80 m
Flash modes Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 580 gr (1.28 lbs) 110 gr (0.24 lbs)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 420 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLH-1 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Dual -
Cost at launch $1,800 $119