Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A550

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A550, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and A550 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL2 was introduced 15 months after the A550 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-PL2 matches up vs the A550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL2 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL2 Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.

If you are intending to travel with your camera often, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 offers outer measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Sony A550 has dimensions 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-PL2 vs Sony A550 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL2 against the A550.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and A550 is 85 and 63 respectively.

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and A550.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Sony A550 will deliver more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The younger E-PL2 provides an edge in sensor tech.