Olympus SZ-10 vs Sony A57

The following is a thorough review of the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A57, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the A57 (16MP) is pretty close but the SZ-10 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-10 was released 19 months before the A57 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the SZ-10 scores against the A57 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SZ-10 and Sony SLT-A57. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus SZ-10 Gallery and Sony A57 Gallery.

In case you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-10 features outside dimensions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Sony A57 has specifications of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") along with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-10 and Sony A57 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the SZ-10 and the A57.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-10 and A57 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Generally, it is very difficult to envision the difference in sensor dimensions merely by researching a spec sheet. The image here may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-10 and A57.

Clearly, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-10 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony A57 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SZ-10 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.