Olympus SP-810 UZ vs. Sony Alpha A560: An In-Depth Comparative Review for the Curious Photographer

When the hum of a shutter tempts your trigger finger, and you’re caught between two very different cameras, how do you decide? I’ve tested both the Olympus SP-810 UZ and the Sony Alpha A560 extensively in my early-career and then pro-level expeditions, from crowded urban streets to quiet mountain trails. These two cameras inhabit distinct worlds - one a small-sensor superzoom bridge, the other an entry-level DSLR - and yet both beg to be understood beyond their spec sheets. If you’re looking for that candid, experience-based reality check to harmonize tech specs with real-world use, buckle in. Here’s the full rundown.

Starting with the Tangibles: Size, Style, and Ergonomics

In the trenches of photography - literally, sometimes - how a camera feels in your hands can make or break the experience. The Olympus SP-810 UZ is a compact beast masquerading as a bridge-style camera, weighing in at a modest 413 grams and packing a tight 106x76x74mm frame. In contrast, the Sony A560 is chunkier (599 grams) and larger (137x104x84mm), embodying the heft and presence of a traditional entry-level DSLR.

Ergonomics wise, the A560 sports a more commanding grip that instantly feels natural in experienced hands - it’s the kind of familiarity DSLR users appreciate for stability, especially with heavier lenses. The SP-810 UZ, meanwhile, strives for portability but with its fixed lens setup and bridge form factor feels like a compact camera trying to stretch its legs into DSLR territory.

The top view tells a similar story - the SP-810 UZ opts for simplicity, with fewer tactile controls and a fixed lens barrel that extends dramatically. The Sony A560’s control layout is richer with an array of buttons, dials, and a mode dial that situates well under thumb and index finger.

The takeaway - if you crave lightness and a grab-and-go shoot-anything style, Olympus wins for portability, but if those physical controls and grip comfort during prolonged shooting sessions matter to you, the A560 offers DSLR ergonomics that justify its size.

Peeking Under the Hood: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

Let’s trade form for function - image quality is king. The Olympus SP-810 UZ uses a 1/2.3" CCD sensor sized 6.17x4.55mm, which puts it firmly in the small-sensor compact category. It delivers 14 megapixels at a maximum resolution of 4288x3216 pixels - crisp on paper but the sensor area is just 28.07 mm². On the flip side, the Sony A560 wields a much larger APS-C CMOS sensor (23.5x15.6mm) with the same 14MP count but a sensor area of 366.6 mm² - over 13 times larger than the Olympian.

This massive difference has immediate implications. Larger sensors typically offer better dynamic range, superior low-light performance, improved color depth, and shallower depth of field possibilities - all crucial for nuanced photography.

Testing side-by-side in varied lighting, the Sony delivers richer colors and markedly better noise control past ISO 1600, handling ISO 3200 fairly gracefully. The Olympus’s smaller sensor is more prone to noise and struggles beyond ISO 400, and that CCD technology shows its age with slower readout and less dynamic range control.

The Sony also supports RAW shooting, opening the door to comprehensive post-processing control. Olympus limits you to JPEGs, constraining flexibility, particularly for professional workflows or serious editing.

The Viewfinder and Display: Composing Your Shots

Neither camera lives with a high-end electronic viewfinder, but the Sony A560 boasts a bright optical pentamirror finder covering 95% frame with 0.53x magnification - a standard DSLR trait invaluable for shooting in bright conditions or fast-action scenarios where live view lags.

The Olympus SP-810 UZ lacks any viewfinder - you’re relegated entirely to the rear LCD, which can be challenging under direct sunlight.

Speaking of displays, both share a 3-inch rear screen, but let’s compare sharpness and versatility.

The Sony’s 922k-dot flip-out screen offers better resolution and the flexibility to tilt for awkward shooting angles - street shooting, low macro angles, or overhead landscapes. The Olympus’s fixed 230k-dot LCD is a throwback in clarity, frustratingly dim in midday sun and with limited viewing angles.

For me, having that articulating screen on the Sony made macro shots and video framing significantly easier - it’s a small feature making a huge ergonomic difference.

Autofocus Systems: How Fast, How Accurate?

Autofocus can make or break your shoot, whether you’re chasing squirrels or snapping portraits.

Olympus’s SP-810 UZ has a contrast-detection AF system (no phase detection), limited focus point information, and a top continuous shooting rate of 0.7 fps - rather slow. It features some face detection, but its autofocus performance is generally sluggish and less reliable when tracking moving subjects. This makes fast sports or wildlife shooting a challenge.

The Sony A560’s 15-point AF sensor includes three cross-type points delivering phase-detection autofocus - faster and more accurate, especially in varied lighting. It shoots bursts up to 5 fps, suitable for casual sports, wildlife, or kids-in-motion photography. Though not cutting-edge by today’s standards, the A560’s AF was noticeably more responsive and reliable in live shooting scenarios.

Lenses and Flexibility: A Universe of Glass or Fixed Zoom?

The Olympus SP-810 UZ sports a fixed 24-864mm equivalent zoom (36× optical zoom, aperture f/2.9-5.7) - impressive on paper and great for travelers wanting a versatile all-in-one lens. But being tethered to this single lens means limitations: optical quality might waver at the extreme ends, and no switching to faster primes or specialty optics.

The Sony A560’s Sony/Minolta Alpha mount offers immense lens flexibility, compatible with no less than 143 lenses - from ultra-wide zooms and sharp primes to telephoto zooms by Sony, Sigma, Tamron, and more. That ecosystem extends your creative latitude vastly, lending this DSLR long-term value.

Speaking from experience, owning the Sony gave me a vast playground to experiment and find lenses optimized for portraits, landscapes, and astrophotography - options virtually impossible with the Olympus bridge camera’s fixed zoom lens.

Shooting in Different Genres: Who Excels Where?

To settle which is “better,” let’s dive into practical usage across major photography styles.

Portrait Photography

The Sony A560’s APS-C sensor allows for creamy bokeh and shallow depth of field, lending portraits a beautiful subject-background separation. Its 15 AF points and face detection aid focusing on eyes, ensuring tack-sharp results. The Sony also supports RAW, capturing subtle skin tone nuances better, easily enhanced during editing.

The Olympus’s smaller sensor and fixed zoom lens produce softer background separation with less precise autofocus. Portraits can look flat or overly sharpened due to in-camera JPEG processing that can’t be tweaked.

Landscape Photography

For landscapes, resolution and dynamic range count. The Sony’s bigger sensor with 14MP resolution provides finer detail rendering and better highlight/shadow retention - particularly important with wide exposure ranges.

The Olympus offers wide-angle at 24mm equivalent and impressively long telephoto reach but compromises image quality in RAW shadows and highlights. Its weather sealing is nonexistent, disadvantaging outdoor, rugged conditions.

Sony’s non-weather-sealed build loses out similarly, but the lens ecosystem includes weather-sealed glass, improving build confidence on terrain.

Wildlife Photography

The Olympus’s 36× zoom (864mm equivalent) is a tempting choice for distant subjects - no lens swapping, though image quality softens beyond 400mm equivalent. The AF speed and continuous shooting rate (0.7 fps) are sluggish for wildlife action, though, making missed shots inevitable.

Sony’s lens swap option allows attaching super telephoto zooms or primes with wider apertures leading to sharper, higher-quality wildlife imagery. Its 5 fps burst and faster AF make it more apt for action, but the Sony body alone lacks zoom reach without appropriate lenses.

Sports Photography

Sports demand quick reflexes and rapid autofocus. Sony’s A560 definitely fits this role better with its phase-detection AF, continuous autofocus, and 5 fps shooting. It’s not a pro sports camera but suitable for amateur sports events and fast-moving kids.

Olympus’s slower AF and burst rates, coupled with fixed lens limitations, rule it out here.

Street Photography

The Olympus SP-810 UZ’s smaller size and quiet operation can aid street discretion, though the camera’s lens zoom nature can make it bulky to carry day-long. Its slow autofocus affects capturing fleeting street moments.

Sony A560’s optical viewfinder helps with eye-level framing, though it’s bulkier and louder. The tilting LCD helps in candid shooting angles but impacts stealth. Both cameras are limited in low-light street situations compared to modern mirrorless options, but Sony’s ISO capabilities and sensor help it edge ahead.

Macro Photography

The Olympus’s macro focus down to 5cm is straightforward, and stabilization helps handheld macro shots. But the lack of interchangeable lenses limits magnification or specialty macro options.

Sony’s lens ecosystem includes dedicated macro lenses with 1:1 magnification and technology aiding close focusing precision. Stabilization comes from lenses, not the body, but performance here is more pronounced with the right glass.

Night and Astrophotography

Sony A560 shines with ISO up to 12800 native and 25600 boosted, though noise can be present. Its RAW files allow post-processing to reduce noise and adjust exposures creatively. The larger sensor delivers cleaner high-ISO images essential for astrophotography.

Olympus maxes out at ISO 3200 but struggles with noise even at lower ISOs. Its CCD sensor is less adept in extended exposures, and lack of RAW support hampers star photography efforts.

Video Capabilities

Sony A560 shoots full HD (1920x1080) at 60 fps with built-in microphone port - a rare feature for entry DSLR at the time, accommodating external mics for better audio. Video quality is generally clean, with decent manual controls.

Olympus SP-810 UZ records only HD at 1280x720 at 30fps, no microphone input, and limited codecs. Video enthusiasts seeking quality and control will find the Sony a better option.

Travel Photography

The Olympus’s massive zoom range bundles optical reach into one package - alluring for travelers to avoid carrying extra lenses. Its compact size aids portability, but limited performance in varied lighting conditions constrains overall image quality.

Sony A560’s bulk and weight grow with lens choices but delivers greater versatility and image consistency. Battery life (1050 shots per charge) and dual card slots cater to extended trips.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

Neither camera boasts official environmental sealing, dustproofing, or rugged features. The Sony’s DSLR construction feels notably more robust, while Olympus’s bridge-style build is plastic-dominant but sufficiently solid for casual use.

Neither camera is freezeproof, shockproof, or crushproof.

Battery Life and Storage

Sony’s NP-FM500H battery is a workhorse delivering approximately 1050 shots per charge - excellent for all-day shoots. Olympus’s Li-50B rated battery specs aren’t published but tend toward lower endurance typical of compact/superzoom cameras.

Sony supports dual storage slots (SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo), beneficial for workflow and backup. Olympus has a single SD slot.

Connectivity and Modern Features

Sony integrates “Eye-Fi connected” wireless support for select cards enabling image transfer, while Olympus offers none. Both have HDMI output and USB 2.0 - no Bluetooth or GPS on either.

Overall Performance and Scores

Let’s draw on some third-party benchmarking and my own tests for a final scorecard.

Sony A560 scores around 70 points on DxOMark-related metrics (color depth 22.5 bits, dynamic range 12.3 EV), excellent for its class and period. Olympus isn’t tested by DxOMark but small sensor and CCD constraints place it notably lower.

Genre-Specific Insights and Scores

A final look at how they handle specific photography needs:

• Portrait: Sony wins with sensor and AF advantages
• Landscape: Sony again with dynamic range and lens selection
• Wildlife: Mixed - Olympus for zoom reach, Sony for AF speed
• Sports: Clear Sony advantage
• Street: Lean Sony for controls, not Olympus for size
• Macro: Sony with dedicated lenses
• Night/Astro: Sony’s low noise and RAW support
• Video: Sony’s full HD 60fps and audio input
• Travel: Olympus for compactness and zoom, Sony for image quality and battery
• Professional Use: Sony for RAW, lenses, and workflow

Who Should Choose What?

Wrapping up with personal recommendations:

• Olympus SP-810 UZ is best for:

  • Casual shooters wanting an all-in-one zoom without fuss
  • Travelers on a budget prioritizing lightness and reach over image quality
  • Beginners reluctant to swap lenses or master manual controls

• Sony Alpha A560 excels for:

  • Enthusiasts and semi-pros needing superior image quality and manual flexibility
  • Portrait, landscape, and wildlife photographers prioritizing lens options and RAW
  • Video hobbyists wanting HD shooting with external mic connectivity
  • Users who don’t mind carrying a DSLR’s bulk for better performance

Final Thoughts: Bridge vs. DSLR – Different Tools for Different Visions

In the end, comparing the Olympus SP-810 UZ and Sony Alpha A560 is almost like pitting a Swiss Army knife against a precision scalpel: the Olympus tries to cover everything with a versatile zoom and simple controls, while the Sony is designed to carve out higher-quality, creative images with expansive control.

Having tested and trusted cameras in my career, I value the Sony A560 for serious photo projects and learning the DSLR ecosystem's ropes, whereas the Olympus SP-810 UZ serves well as a lightweight adventure companion with zoom reach but at image quality sacrifices.

Camera choices are inherently personal, blending budget, genre focus, and shooting style. Both these cameras may feel dated today but teach foundational lessons about sensor size, optical engineering, and usability that remain timeless. For your next buy, weigh your priorities carefully - is convenience or image quality your North Star? Now you have the insights to decide.

Hope this deep-dive gives you the clarity I'd have wanted before my first DSLR purchase. Feel free to ask if you want specific sample images or workflow tips from either camera!

Olympus SP 810 UZ front Olympus SP 810 UZ screen back Sony A560 front Sony A560 screen back