Olympus 7030 vs Sony A55

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus 7030 versus Sony A55, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the 7030 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the 7030 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The 7030 was revealed 7 months earlier than the A55 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus 7030 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the 7030 scores vs the A55 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus 7030 and Sony SLT-A55. The full galleries are available at Olympus 7030 Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus 7030 has got physical dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Sony A55 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Compare the Olympus 7030 versus Sony A55 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the 7030 and the A55.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 7030 and A55 is 95 and 67 respectively.

Sometimes, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing only by going through specs. The graphic here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the 7030 and A55.

All in all, the 2 cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The 7030 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A55 will provide extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The older 7030 will be behind in sensor innovation.