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Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A550

Portability
82
Imaging
53
Features
73
Overall
61
Olympus OM-D E-M10 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 119 x 82 x 46mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Successor is Olympus E-M10 II
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
  • Introduced December 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A100
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Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A550 Overview

Here is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-M10 versus Sony A550, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-M10 (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-M10 (Four Thirds) and A550 (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.

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The E-M10 was launched 4 years later than the A550 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M10 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-M10 scores vs the A550 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 over the Sony A550

 E-M10 A550 
IntroducedMarch 2014December 2009Fresher by 52 months
Display resolution1037k922kSharper display (+115k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus E-M10

 A550 E-M10 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 and Sony A550

 E-M10 A550 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M10 has external dimensions of 119mm x 82mm x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) while the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

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

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M10 against the A550.

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M10 and A550 is 82 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading through technical specs. The photograph underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M10 and A550.

As you can tell, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M10 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Olympus E-M10 will resolve more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more modern E-M10 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M10
Portrait photography with Sony A550
71
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
72
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Street photography highlights
Sony A550 Street photography highlights
77
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
more heavy than competitors (396 grams)
74
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M10
Sports photography with Sony A550
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
lacks phase detect AF
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery (480 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M10
Travel photography with Sony A550
67
has focus by touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
more heavy than competitors (396g)
screen is not selfie friendly
52
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
not so great battery (480 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Landscape photography factors
Sony A550 Landscape photography factors
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
66
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
not so great battery (480 per charge)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Vlogging info
Sony A550 Vlogging info
33
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing microphone support
more heavy than competitors (396 grams)
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 and Sony A550
 Olympus OM-D E-M10Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2014-03-18 2009-12-09
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.80 m (ISO100) 12.00 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual(1/1(FULL)~1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 396g (0.87 pounds) 632g (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 119 x 82 x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 66
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 11.8
DXO Low light score 884 807
Other
Battery life 320 shots 480 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec.,custom (Waiting time 1-30sec.,Shooting interval 0.5/1/2/3sec.,Number of shots 1-10)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $600 $749