Olympus 550WP vs Sony RX1R

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus 550WP and Sony RX1R, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the 550WP (10MP) and RX1R (24MP) and the 550WP (1/2.3") and RX1R (Full frame) have totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The 550WP was manufactured 5 years before the RX1R which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 550WP being a Compact camera and the Sony RX1R being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the 550WP scores versus the RX1R when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus 550WP and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus 550WP Gallery and Sony RX1R Gallery.

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus 550WP offers physical dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Sony RX1R has sizing of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

See the Olympus 550WP and Sony RX1R in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the 550WP compared to the RX1R.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 550WP and RX1R is 94 and 79 respectively.

Normally, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes just by looking at a spec sheet. The pic here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the 550WP and RX1R.

Clearly, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The 550WP because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Sony RX1R will give you extra detail due to its extra 14MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged 550WP is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.