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Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A550

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Announced March 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus SH-1
  • Refreshed by Olympus SH-3
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released December 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A100
Photography Glossary

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A550 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus SH-2 versus Sony A550, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SH-2 (16MP) and the A550 (14MP) is pretty similar but the SH-2 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The SH-2 was unveiled 5 years later than the A550 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SH-2 matches up versus the A550 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Sony A550

 SH-2 A550 
ReleasedMarch 2015December 2009Fresher by 64 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus SH-2

 A550 SH-2 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Sony A550

 SH-2 A550 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-2 has got outside dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SH-2 versus Sony A550 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the SH-2 compared to the A550.

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-2 and A550 is 88 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading specifications. The photograph underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-2 and A550.

Plainly, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SH-2 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Olympus SH-2 will offer you greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The younger SH-2 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography factors
Sony A550 Portrait photography factors
44
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Street photography camera
Sony A550 as a Street photography camera
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
has focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
74
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-2
Sports photography with Sony A550
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery (380 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
74
better than average battery (380 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (271g)
has focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
52
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (480 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SH-2
Landscape photography with Sony A550
55
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (380 per charge)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
66
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
not so great battery pack (480 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
35
pretty wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus SH-2 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Sony A550
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-2 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2015-03-11 2009-12-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 125 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 11.5 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264 -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 271 grams (0.60 lbs) 632 grams (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 807
Other
Battery life 380 images 480 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $399 $749