Olympus SP-100 vs Sony A700

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus SP-100 and Sony A700, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the SP-100 (16MP) and A700 (12MP) and the SP-100 (1/2.3") and A700 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

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The SP-100 was revealed 6 years after the A700 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A700 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SP-100 matches up versus the A700 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus SP-100 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A700. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-100 Gallery & Sony A700 Gallery.

For those who are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-100 provides exterior measurements of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") having a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs) while the Sony A700 has measurements of 142mm x 105mm x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1") along with a weight of 768 grams (1.69 lbs).

Check the Olympus SP-100 and Sony A700 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the SP-100 compared to the A700.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SP-100 and A700 is 63 and 58 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions merely by viewing technical specs. The pic below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-100 and A700.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SP-100 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh tougher and the Olympus SP-100 will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The younger SP-100 provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.