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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A550

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Announced January 2013
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
  • Replaced the Sony A100
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A550 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A550, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very close but the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-16 iHS was manufactured 3 years after the A550 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the SZ-16 iHS matches up vs the A550 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony A550

 SZ-16 iHS A550 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013December 2009More modern by 38 months

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 A550 SZ-16 iHS 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kSharper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A550

 SZ-16 iHS A550 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS has got physical measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the SZ-16 iHS versus the A550.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A550 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and A550 is 89 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes only by researching technical specs. The pic underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-16 iHS and A550.

As you can tell, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ-16 iHS featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS will provide you with greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively. The younger SZ-16 iHS will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography features
Sony A550 Portrait photography features
35
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
72
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Street photography camera
Sony A550 as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
74
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography info
Sony A550 Sports photography info
42
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
terrible battery pack (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography highlights
Sony A550 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (220 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
52
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (480 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Landscape photography with Sony A550
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
66
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
terrible battery pack (480 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging features
Sony A550 Vlogging features
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic port
9
no video
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony A550
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2013-01-08 2009-12-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m
Flash options 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
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 632g (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 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
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $230 $749