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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A550

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released February 2011
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released December 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A100
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A550 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A550, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the A550 (14MP) is pretty similar but the SZ-10 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-10 was revealed 15 months later than the A550 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the SZ-10 grades versus the A550 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Sony A550

 SZ-10 A550 
ReleasedFebruary 2011December 2009Fresher by 15 months

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus SZ-10

 A550 SZ-10 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kCrisper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A550

 SZ-10 A550 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-10 comes with outside dimensions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A550 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the SZ-10 versus the A550.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-10 and A550 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to envision the difference between sensor sizing purely by going over specs. The graphic underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-10 and A550.

All in all, both cameras posses the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizing. The SZ-10 has the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field more challenging. The newer SZ-10 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
provides face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
72
manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Street photography features
Sony A550 Street photography features
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (215 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography advice
Sony A550 Sports photography advice
40
amazing zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
has no phase detect AF
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
bad battery life (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-10
Travel photography with Sony A550
65
lighter than average in class (215g)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
long zoom (504mm)
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
52
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (480 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
40
quite wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
no Timelapse recording
66
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
bad battery life (480 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Vlogging highlights
Sony A550 Vlogging highlights
31
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than average in class (215 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone socket
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A550
 Olympus SZ-10Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-10 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-02-08 2009-12-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-504mm (18.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-4.4 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.10 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 215 grams (0.47 lbs) 632 grams (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 807
Other
Battery life 220 shots 480 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $300 $749