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Olympus E-M10 II vs Sony A550

Portability
82
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 II front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus E-M10 II vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 390g - 120 x 83 x 47mm
  • Released August 2015
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M10
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M10 III
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched December 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A100
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Olympus E-M10 II vs Sony A550 Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-M10 II versus Sony A550, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M10 II (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-M10 II (Four Thirds) and A550 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The E-M10 II was manufactured 5 years after the A550 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M10 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-M10 II matches up against the A550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 II over the Sony A550

 E-M10 II A550 
LaunchedAugust 2015December 2009More modern by 70 months
Screen resolution1040k922kSharper screen (+118k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus E-M10 II

 A550 E-M10 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 II and Sony A550

 E-M10 II A550 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 II vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-M10 II features exterior measurements of 120mm x 83mm x 47mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 1.9") and a weight of 390 grams (0.86 lbs) while the Sony A550 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M10 II versus Sony A550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M10 II against the A550.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Sony A550 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M10 II and A550 is 82 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 II vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading specifications. The pic underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M10 II and A550.

To sum up, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M10 II because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Olympus E-M10 II will offer you extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-M10 II should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 II vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 II vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Portrait photography info
Sony A550 Portrait photography info
72
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW files
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M10 II
Street photography with Sony A550
83
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
74
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Sports photography features
Sony A550 Sports photography features
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect AF
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery pack (480 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Travel photography advice
Sony A550 Travel photography advice
73
has focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
52
MP count good (14MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (480 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Landscape photography information
Sony A550 Landscape photography information
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
66
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
not so great battery pack (480 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Vlogging details
Sony A550 Vlogging details
35
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-M10 II vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 II and Sony A550
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 IISony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 II Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2015-08-25 2009-12-09
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.80 m (ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, flash off, 1st-curtain slow sync w/redeye, 1st-curtain slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/30p/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 390g (0.86 pounds) 632g (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 120 x 83 x 47mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 1.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 66
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 11.8
DXO Low light score 842 807
Other
Battery life 320 photographs 480 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $499 $749