Olympus SP-100 vs Sony A99 II

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Olympus SP-100 versus Sony A99 II, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the SP-100 (16MP) and A99 II (42MP) and the SP-100 (1/2.3") and A99 II (Full frame) come with different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The SP-100 was released 3 years prior to the A99 II which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A99 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the SP-100 matches up against the A99 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus SP-100 & Sony Alpha A99 II. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus SP-100 Gallery & Sony A99 II Gallery.

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-100 offers external measurements of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") with a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs) and the Sony A99 II has dimensions of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") with a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs).

See the Olympus SP-100 versus Sony A99 II in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the SP-100 against the A99 II.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-100 and A99 II is 63 and 57 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes only by going over technical specs. The pic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-100 and A99 II.

As you have seen, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SP-100 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A99 II will offer more detail as a result of its extra 26 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged SP-100 is going to be behind in sensor technology.