Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A550

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus SH-1 versus Sony A550, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SH-1 (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very well matched but the SH-1 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) feature different sensor size.

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The SH-1 was unveiled 4 years after the A550 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the SH-1 matches up against the A550 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus SH-1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The full galleries are available at Olympus SH-1 Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SH-1 has physical measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SH-1 versus Sony A550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the SH-1 against the A550.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SH-1 and A550 is 88 and 63 respectively.

Generally, it's hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specs. The image below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-1 and A550.

All in all, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SH-1 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Olympus SH-1 will resolve greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The younger SH-1 should have an edge in sensor tech.