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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony W550

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony W550 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
  • Released July 2011
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony W550 Overview

Here is a extended review of the Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony W550, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the W550 (14MP) is relatively well matched and they possess the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-11 was revealed within a month of the W550 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the SZ-11 matches up versus the W550 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Sony W550

 SZ-11 W550 
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Olympus SZ-11

 W550 SZ-11 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony W550

 SZ-11 W550 
LaunchedJuly 2011July 2011Similar age
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-11 features outer dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony W550 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony W550 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-11 and the W550.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-11 and W550 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing simply by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-11 and W550.

Clearly, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact megapixels therefore you can expect similar quality of files although you will want to factor the launch date of the products into consideration.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-11
Portrait photography with Sony W550
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
28
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Street photography highlights
Sony W550 Street photography highlights
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography details
Sony W550 Sports photography details
43
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery (200 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Travel photography factors
Sony W550 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery (200 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
65
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography details
Sony W550 Landscape photography details
40
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery (200 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
42
really wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging information
Sony W550 Vlogging information
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone support
29
really wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic port
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Sony W550
 Olympus SZ-11Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-11 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2011-07-27 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 110 gr (0.24 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 pictures -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 -
Launch pricing $253 $119