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Olympus 7040 vs Sony A550

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus 7040 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus 7040 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus 7040
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-196mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 144g - 95 x 56 x 26mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Other Name is mju 7040
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced December 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A100
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Olympus 7040 vs Sony A550 Overview

Below is a in depth review of the Olympus 7040 and Sony A550, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the 7040 (14MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very well matched but the 7040 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The 7040 was unveiled at a similar time to the A550 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 7040 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the 7040 grades against the A550 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus 7040 over the Sony A550

 7040 A550 

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus 7040

 A550 7040 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus 7040 and Sony A550

 7040 A550 
IntroducedJanuary 2010December 2009Similar age
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus 7040 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus 7040 provides external dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 144 grams (0.32 lbs) while the Sony A550 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus 7040 and Sony A550 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view scale comparison of the 7040 and the A550.

Olympus 7040 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 7040 and A550 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Olympus 7040 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 7040 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the 7040 and A550.

Clearly, both of the cameras come with the identical megapixel count but not the same sensor measurements. The 7040 offers the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult.

Olympus 7040 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus 7040 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 7040 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 7040 Portrait photography features
Sony A550 Portrait photography features
28
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
72
focusing manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus 7040
Street photography with Sony A550
57
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 7040 Sports photography info
Sony A550 Sports photography info
39
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (480 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 7040 Travel photography details
Sony A550 Travel photography details
65
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
52
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (480 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 7040 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
42
quite wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
66
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
terrible battery life (480 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 7040 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
29
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic jack
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus 7040 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 7040 and Sony A550
 Olympus Stylus 7040Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus 7040 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Alternate name mju 7040 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-01-07 2009-12-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 64 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-196mm (7.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 2cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.70 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 144 grams (0.32 lb) 632 grams (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 56 x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 807
Other
Battery life - 480 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SC/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $299 $749