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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A550

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Revealed July 2011
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced December 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A100
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A550 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A550, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the A550 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the SZ-11 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-11 was revealed 20 months after the A550 making them a generation away from one another. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summary of how the SZ-11 matches up versus the A550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Sony A550

 SZ-11 A550 
AnnouncedJuly 2011December 2009More modern by 20 months

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus SZ-11

 A550 SZ-11 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A550

 SZ-11 A550 
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-11 enjoys exterior measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst 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).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-11 and the A550.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-11 and A550 is 89 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizes just by checking technical specs. The image underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-11 and A550.

As you can tell, both of those cameras come with the identical megapixels but different sensor sizes. The SZ-11 contains the tinier sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult. The more recent SZ-11 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
33
decent MP (14MP)
features face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
72
manual focus
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-11
Street photography with Sony A550
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-11
Sports photography with Sony A550
43
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery power (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
52
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery power (480 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery life (200 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
66
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
low battery power (480 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging factors
Sony A550 Vlogging factors
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A550
 Olympus SZ-11Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-11 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-07-27 2009-12-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 632 grams (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 807
Other
Battery life 200 images 480 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $253 $749