Olympus E-P1 vs Sony W550

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus E-P1 vs Sony W550, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the W550 (14MP) is pretty similar but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and W550 (1/2.3") have different sensor measurements.

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The E-P1 was unveiled 24 months prior to the W550 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-P1 scores against the W550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-P1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-P1 Gallery and Sony W550 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry your camera, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P1 offers outer dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Sony W550 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P1 vs Sony W550 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the E-P1 versus the W550.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and W550 is 86 and 96 respectively.

In many cases, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizing only by reading specifications. The visual below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P1 and W550.

Plainly, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P1 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony W550 will offer you extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older E-P1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.