Olympus SH-50 vs Sony A57

The following is a extensive overview of the Olympus SH-50 and Sony A57, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SH-50 (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is very similar but the SH-50 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

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The SH-50 was brought out 4 months after the A57 so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SH-50 grades versus the A57 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SH-50 and Sony SLT-A57. The entire galleries are available at Olympus SH-50 Gallery and Sony A57 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and size. The Olympus SH-50 comes with physical measurements of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony A57 has specifications of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") having a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check the Olympus SH-50 and Sony A57 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the SH-50 versus the A57.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-50 and A57 is 88 and 64 respectively.

In many cases, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specifications. The picture below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-50 and A57.

To sum up, both cameras have the same resolution but different sensor dimensions. The SH-50 features the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult.