Olympus 550WP vs Sony WX500
94 Imaging
33 Features
17 Overall
26


91 Imaging
43 Features
56 Overall
48
Olympus 550WP vs Sony WX500 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Display
- ISO 64 - 1600
- Digital Image Stabilization
- 640 x 480 video
- 38-114mm (F3.5-5.0) lens
- 167g - 94 x 62 x 22mm
- Introduced January 2009
- Other Name is mju 550WP
(Full Review)
- 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 80 - 12800
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
- 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
- Revealed April 2015
- Replaced the Sony WX350

Olympus 550WP vs Sony WX500 Overview
On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus 550WP vs Sony WX500, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the 550WP (10MP) and WX500 (18MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

The 550WP was revealed 7 years prior to the WX500 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).
Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the 550WP scores vs the WX500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Olympus 550WP vs Sony WX500 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus 550WP & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus 550WP Gallery & Sony WX500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Sony WX500
550WP | WX500 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Olympus 550WP
WX500 | 550WP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | April 2015 | ![]() | January 2009 | Fresher by 76 months |
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Screen resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper screen (+691k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Sony WX500
550WP | WX500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Lack of manual focusing | ||
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Lack of Touch friendly screen |
Olympus 550WP vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus 550WP features external measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Sony WX500 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).
Check the Olympus 550WP vs Sony WX500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the 550WP against the WX500.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the 550WP and WX500 is 94 and 91 respectively.

Olympus 550WP vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it can be hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing purely by checking a spec sheet. The graphic below may offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the 550WP and WX500.
Clearly, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Sony WX500 to give greater detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older 550WP is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus 550WP vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Sony WX500 Specifications
Olympus Stylus 550WP | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Olympus | Sony |
Model type | Olympus Stylus 550WP | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 |
Alternate name | mju 550WP | - |
Class | Small Sensor Compact | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Introduced | 2009-01-07 | 2015-04-14 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | - | Bionz X |
Sensor type | CCD | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor area | 27.7mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10MP | 18MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4896 x 3672 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 12800 |
Min native ISO | 64 | 80 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 38-114mm (3.0x) | 24-720mm (30.0x) |
Max aperture | f/3.5-5.0 | f/3.5-6.4 |
Macro focusing distance | 7cm | 5cm |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display size | 2.5 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 230 thousand dots | 921 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 4s | 30s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/1000s | 1/2000s |
Continuous shooting rate | - | 10.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | - | 5.40 m (with Auto ISO) |
Flash options | Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On | Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p) |
Max video resolution | 640x480 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | AVCHD, XAVC S |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Built-In |
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 | 167 grams (0.37 pounds) | 236 grams (0.52 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") | 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 360 images |
Type of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NP-BX1 |
Self timer | Yes (12 seconds) | Yes |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo |
Card slots | One | One |
Retail price | $399 | $348 |