Olympus 5010 vs Sony A55

The following is a extensive analysis of the Olympus 5010 versus Sony A55, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the 5010 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is very similar but the 5010 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The 5010 was brought out 7 months prior to the A55 so they are of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 5010 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the 5010 grades vs the A55 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus 5010 & Sony SLT-A55. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus 5010 Gallery & Sony A55 Gallery.

When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus 5010 comes with physical dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony A55 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Compare the Olympus 5010 versus Sony A55 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the 5010 compared to the A55.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the 5010 and A55 is 96 and 67 respectively.

Often, it is very difficult to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the 5010 and A55.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The 5010 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony A55 will deliver more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged 5010 is going to be behind in sensor tech.