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Olympus 550WP vs Sony HX30V

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus 550WP vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus 550WP
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-5.0) lens
  • 167g - 94 x 62 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2009
  • Other Name is mju 550WP
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced February 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX20V
  • Updated by Sony HX50V
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Olympus 550WP vs Sony HX30V Overview

Below is a thorough assessment of the Olympus 550WP and Sony HX30V, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the 550WP (10MP) and HX30V (18MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The 550WP was introduced 4 years earlier than the HX30V and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the 550WP matches up vs the HX30V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Sony HX30V

 550WP HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus 550WP

 HX30V 550WP 
IntroducedFebruary 2012January 2009More recent by 38 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Sony HX30V

 550WP HX30V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus 550WP vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus 550WP comes with outside dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus 550WP and Sony HX30V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the 550WP versus the HX30V.

Olympus 550WP vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the 550WP and HX30V is 94 and 90 respectively.

Olympus 550WP vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to see the contrast between sensor measurements only by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the 550WP and HX30V.

Clearly, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Sony HX30V to offer you greater detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images way more aggressively. The older 550WP is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus 550WP vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 550WP vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 550WP Portrait photography advice
Sony HX30V Portrait photography advice
19
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
45
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus 550WP Street photography details
Sony HX30V Street photography details
61
built in image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 550WP as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Sports photography camera
30
built in image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000s)
no shutter priority
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 550WP Travel photography highlights
Sony HX30V Travel photography highlights
55
environment proofing
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than competition (254g)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 550WP as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
30
built in image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
manual mode not possible
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
50
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 550WP Vlogging info
Sony HX30V Vlogging info
25
built in image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
no external mic support
34
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (254g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone socket
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Olympus 550WP vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 550WP and Sony HX30V
 Olympus Stylus 550WPSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus 550WP Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Also called mju 550WP -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-01-07 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 38-114mm (3.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.0 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance 7cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167 grams (0.37 lb) 254 grams (0.56 lb)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 320 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $399 $420