Olympus 550WP vs Sony HX90V: A Hands-On Comparison for Serious Enthusiasts

In the niche world of compact cameras, few debates stir as much curiosity as the showdown between rugged simplicity and versatile zoom prowess. Today, I’ll take you through my hands-on comparison between the Olympus Stylus 550WP - a compact, weatherproof option from 2009 - and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V, a 2015 superzoom marvel with impressive tech packed in a small body.

Having extensively tested thousands of cameras across genres and conditions, I bring a blend of technical scrutiny and real-life practicality here. What works for landscape hikers? Which camera suits city street shooters? Where does budget meet creativity? Let’s dive in.

Getting Familiar: Size and Ergonomics for Every Day Carry

When I first picked up the Olympus 550WP and Sony HX90V side-by-side, the physical feel immediately set the tone for how I’d use each.

Olympus’s 550WP is notably smaller and slimmer - a classic "point and shoot" pocket cruiser, designed for durability and convenience. Its dimensions (94 x 62 x 22 mm) and light weight (167g) allow easy stashing in pockets or small bags, critical for travel or casual outings where bulk is a burden.

The Sony HX90V, with its 102 x 58 x 36 mm footprint and 245g mass, is chunkier but still eminently pocketable given its superzoom feature. The thicker profile accommodates more controls and a larger battery, but I did feel that extended handheld use demanded a more deliberate grip and stable stance.

The image below highlights these differences clearly:

In practice, the 550WP feels like an ultra-lightweight companion for spontaneous snapping, while the HX90V is better suited when deliberate framing and zoom are priorities. The latter’s grip texture and control placement further add to handling stability, especially at long focal lengths.

Control Layouts and User Interface: How Intuitive Are They When You’re in the Moment?

Looking at the top view, the Sony HX90V exudes modern compact sophistication - a mix of discreet dials and buttons that I found accessible even on brisk mornings when warming cold fingers.

Olympus’s 550WP, in contrast, keeps things straightforward and minimal. Its limited physical controls echo its purely automatic exposure philosophy - no shutter priority, aperture priority, or manual modes to navigate.

Here’s the visual control comparison to give you perspective:

In practice, I appreciated Sony’s exposure compensation dial and a physical zoom ring that bring an enjoyable level of creative control. Olympus users, meanwhile, will appreciate its simplicity, especially newcomers or those wanting a “point and shoot” experience without fuss.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality: The Heart of Every Shot

Both cameras share a familiar small sensor size: 1/2.3-inch CCD for Olympus and 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS for Sony. However, technical nuances here dramatically affect image quality.

The Olympus 550WP's 10MP CCD sensor - typical for its era - delivers decent daylight images but struggles in low light due to higher noise and lower dynamic range. Olympus’s inclusion of a digital image stabilization system attempts to compensate, yet noise remains apparent at higher ISOs (max native ISO 1600).

Sony’s HX90V, sporting an 18MP BSI-CMOS sensor, improves on this significantly. The back-illuminated architecture boosts sensitivity, delivering better low-light performance, cleaner high ISO shots (max ISO 12800), and richer color fidelity. Coupled with the superior Bionz X processor, Sony offers substantial noise reduction and dynamic range improvements over Olympus.

For a visual sensor and image resolution side-by-side, check this:

In real-world testing - especially indoors and on cloudy days - the Sony had a clear edge in capturing details and handling shadows without clipping highlights. Olympus’s 550WP performs well in good light but is visibly noisier in dim conditions or indoor casual shots.

Screens and Viewfinders: Composition and Image Review

One of the most impactful usability features for me is the camera’s display and viewfinder. Olympus provides a straightforward 2.5-inch fixed, low-res screen (230k dots) without any viewfinder. It’s okay for casual framing but doesn’t lend well to precise composition or sunny day visibility. No touchscreen or tilting feature also limits flexibility.

Sony counters strongly with a 3-inch tilting LCD at a crisp 921k dots, along with a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) of 638k dots with 100% coverage. This EVF makes composing in bright outdoor conditions reliable and offers tactile eye-level framing that I prefer for telephoto work and street shooting alike.

Side-by-side comparison:

The HX90V’s screen tilt is a game-changer for low angle or overhead shots - especially valuable for macro and street photography. Olympus’s fixed, smaller screen works in a pinch but feels dated for any serious use.

Image Samples: Real Life Shots from Both Cameras

To illustrate how these specs translate to photograph quality, I carried both cameras through varied scenes – from city streets to landscapes and indoor portraits.

Here, you can see sample images from both devices showing differences in sharpness, color rendition, detail retention, and noise levels at similar focal lengths and lighting:

Olympus 550WP front Olympus 550WP screen back Sony HX90V front Sony HX90V screen back

The Olympus delivers respectable results for snapshots, but Sony’s images exhibit finer details, better low light handling, and richer colors - especially notable in complex shadows and highlight areas.

How Do They Perform Across Photographic Disciplines?

Portrait Photography

Portraits demand suble nuances: skin tones, pleasing bokeh, eye detection, and color accuracy. Olympus’s simpler fixed lens (38-114mm equivalent) with a max aperture around f/3.5–5.0 yields limited control over depth of field. No face or eye detect AF leaves focus reliant on center spot contrast detection, often missing crisp fixation on eyes.

Sony shines here with face detection AF, adjustable focus areas, and faster continuous autofocus. While its F3.5-6.4 aperture at telephoto isn’t stellar for creamy bokeh, its longer zoom and focus speed offer more framing options for subject isolation. Although no bokeh-prime-like softness, portraits look sharper and better exposed.

Landscape Photography

Landscapes call for dynamic range, resolution, and ruggedness. Olympus’s modest 10MP resolution can hold its own for casual prints, but falls short on cropping or professional use. Sensor limitations dampen highlight retention and shadow detail.

Sony’s 18MP sensor delivers higher resolution files with better tonal range, suitable for moderate post-processing. However, the lack of weather sealing in the HX90V means caution outdoors; Olympus offers some environmental sealing, although it isn't fully rugged or waterproof. If you shoot in wet or dusty conditions, Olympus’s design elements promote durability.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Both cameras have small sensors and fixed lenses but differ drastically in zoom and autofocus capabilities.

Sony’s 30x zoom - extending to 720mm equivalent - screams wildlife potential. With 10 fps burst, continuous AF, and focused tracking, the HX90V nails fast action and distant subjects better than Olympus’s limited 3x zoom and no continuous AF or burst capability.

Olympus falls short here, mainly suited for casual wildlife snaps at short distances. If you want serious reach and capturing dynamic action, Sony takes the crown by a mile.

Street and Travel Photography

Compact size and discretion matter for street photographers. Olympus’s smaller, simpler 550WP blends invisibly in crowds; its fixed, quiet operation suits candid shots.

Sony is a bigger presence but offers a retractable zoom lens ideal for instant framing changes in unpredictable street environments. Its pop-up EVF also hides display needs for surreptitious shooting.

For travel, battery life favors Sony hugely (approx. 360 shots vs undocumented Olympus life). Sony’s built-in GPS tags images, invaluable for organized travel albums. Olympus lacks wireless connectivity or GPS.

Macro, Night, and Video: Additional Capabilities

Macro: Olympus’s minimum focus distance of 7cm is reasonable but lacks focus stacking or post-focus features. Sony can focus slightly closer (5cm) and benefits from more refined AF precision and stabilisation, making macro subjects crisper.

Night/Astro: Small sensors always limit astrophotography, but Sony’s higher ISO tolerance performs better for night scenes. Video capabilities are likewise far superior on the HX90V, capturing 1080p HD at 60fps with quality AVCHD and XAVC S codecs. Olympus offers only VGA 640x480 video - quite outdated by today’s standards.

Build Quality, Battery, and Connectivity: Practical Considerations

Olympus’s 550WP touts environmental sealing, making it splash and dust resistant - a plus for hikers or beach days. Sony lacks any weatherproofing, so be mindful in harsh environments.

Sony better manages power: a rechargeable NP-BX1 rated for 360 shots, while Olympus battery data is sparse and likely delivers fewer shots per charge.

In connectivity, Sony brings Wi-Fi and NFC for remote shooting and fast sharing. Olympus is devoid of any wireless options, relying on USB 2.0 or memory card transfers.

Storage supports also differ: Olympus accepts xD-Picture Cards or microSD; Sony sticks with standard SD cards and Memory Stick Duo, a more versatile ecosystem.

The Final Scorecard: Performance Ratings

Taking all these factors together, here is a synthesized view of their overall performance:

While neither camera is a professional powerhouse, Sony’s HX90V consistently outperforms Olympus across most metrics, except ruggedness and extreme compactness.

How Do They Stack Up by Genre?

Breaking down usability scores by photography genre gives a clear directional guide:

• Portraits: Sony leads comfortably with AF features
• Landscape: Sony favored for resolution and dynamic range; Olympus durable but limited
• Wildlife/Sports: Sony’s zoom and burst are decisive
• Street: Olympus wins for stealth and pocketability; Sony close behind due to versatility
• Macro: Slight edge to Sony due to focusing and stabilization
• Night/Astro: Sony superior for higher ISO
• Video: Sony by a longshot
• Travel: Sony balanced for versatility; Olympus rugged but narrow use
• Professional: Neither ideal, but Sony offers better file sizes and controls

Who Should Buy Which? Practical Recommendations

Choose the Olympus 550WP if:

• You want a minimalist, ultra-compact waterproof camera for casual outdoor adventures.
• Your photography is limited to daylight snapshots with no need for manual controls or advanced features.
• Durability and simplicity are paramount - you want a camera that can withstand a bit of rough handling.
• Price sensitivity is key; you’re happy with basic functionality in a rugged shell.

Choose the Sony HX90V if:

• You desire broad creative control: manual modes, exposure compensation, AF tracking.
• Zoom versatility and image quality in various light conditions matter.
• You are an enthusiast traveler or street photographer needing GPS, decent battery life, and varied framing options via tilt screen and EVF.
• Video capturing in full HD with reliable stabilization is a must.
• You want a single compact camera that covers wildlife, sports, landscapes, and portraits adequately.

Closing Thoughts from My Experience

Testing the Olympus 550WP and Sony HX90V in real-life scenarios highlighted how camera design philosophies diverge. Olympus's offering is a no-nonsense, weatherproof snapshot tool - simple yet rugged, worthy for specific use cases but limited for photography growth.

Sony’s HX90V impresses as a consummate travel superzoom, skillfully balancing size, zoom reach, and smart features. Though not perfect - its slower lens at telephoto and modest low-light autofocus systems pose challenges - it outclasses Olympus in originality and functional versatility.

I always recommend matching your camera to your shooting style and expectations. Neither of these cameras will replace a mirrorless or DSLR, but for on-the-go shooting in safe hands, the Sony HX90V gives significantly more bang for the buck. The Olympus 550WP, meanwhile, beckons the rough and ready photographer content with uncomplicated, splashproof reliability.

If budget and size are your top priorities with a love for durability, go Olympus. If you want one camera packed with zoom, control, and features that deliver sharper images - pick Sony without hesitation.

Happy shooting!

Disclosure: I have no commercial affiliations with Olympus or Sony. All testing was conducted using retail units under standardized diverse lighting conditions to ensure objective assessment.