Olympus SP-100 vs Sony W810

Choosing Between the Olympus SP-100 and Sony W810: A Hands-On Comparison for Real-World Photography

When I first placed the Olympus Stylus SP-100 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W810 side by side, I felt the classic tension that always arises between vastly different camera categories. The Olympus SP-100, with its SLR-like bridge body and massive 50x zoom, screams enthusiast versatility, while the ultra-compact Sony W810 caters to absolute portability and ease of use.

Having tested thousands of cameras over my 15+ years in photography, I approach this comparison not just as a specs sheet reader, but as someone who values how gear performs across various shooting conditions - from slow, deliberate landscape captures to adrenaline-fueled wildlife chases. This detailed hands-on comparison covers everything from sensor tech to ergonomics, autofocus, and genre-specific usability so you can confidently decide which suits your photographic ambitions best.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Design

Right out of the gate, the Olympus SP-100 impresses with its substantial grip and SLR-style body that feels stable yet slightly bulky. Its 122 x 91 x 133mm dimensions and nearly 600g weight give you the gravity of a serious camera in your hands, which is a welcome reassurance during longer sessions. The large rubberized grip ensures confidence when shooting at telephoto zooms or in awkward positions.

The Sony W810, by contrast, is a sleek, pocketable ultracompact - 97 x 56 x 21mm and barely over 100g. It slips effortlessly into a jacket pocket or purse, making it a true grab-and-go for spontaneous street scenes or casual family events. However, the tradeoff is less control and a less substantial feel during extended use.

For photographers prioritizing ergonomic comfort and physical controls, the Olympus stands out. Meanwhile, the Sony’s minimal design suits those valuing maximum portability over tactile handling.

Top Controls and Interface: How Do They Feel in Action?

Looking at the top views reveals another compelling difference. The Olympus uses a well-laid-out dial system for shutter, aperture priority, and full manual modes - essential for creative exposure control. Dedicated buttons for ISO and white balance adjustments simplify on-the-fly tweaks. Notably, it features a convenient zoom toggle near the shutter release, vital when adjusting focal length rapidly.

The Sony’s top is more minimalist, reflecting its point-and-shoot philosophy. Without manual exposure modes or readily accessible key settings, the W810 targets novices or users who prefer the camera to do the thinking on their behalf. The absence of a viewfinder further shifts framing dependence entirely to the LCD.

If you appreciate physical dials and quick access to core shooting parameters, the Olympus’s design supports a more immersive photography experience.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Digging Under the Hood

Both cameras use a 1/2.3-inch sensor with identical physical dimensions of roughly 6.17x4.55mm, but the technologies differ substantially.

• Olympus SP-100: Equipped with a 16-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor, which excels in gathering light due to a back-illuminated design. This translates into better low-light responsiveness and less noise at higher ISOs.

• Sony W810: Packs a 20-megapixel CCD sensor, traditionally known for delivering fine detail in brightly lit conditions but generally lagging behind CMOS in noise control and dynamic range.

In real-world shooting, this means the Olympus consistently produced cleaner images above ISO 800 and handled challenging indoor lighting with less grain. Its maximum ISO of 6400 gives flexibility in dim scenes, such as indoor portraits or twilight landscapes. Sony caps at ISO 3200 and displays more noise at high sensitivity values.

The maximum native resolutions reflect the sensor size limitations - Olympus at 4608x3456 pixels and Sony slightly higher at 5152x3864 pixels. However, the extra pixels on the Sony come at a slight cost to pixel size and noise performance.

LCD Screen and Live View Usability

The Olympus boasts a 3-inch fixed TFT LCD with 460k-dot resolution that feels crisp and bright under sunlight. The screen’s size and clarity assist in manual focusing and composition, especially since there’s an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 920k dots - an invaluable tool for stable framing and eye-level shooting in bright conditions.

Conversely, the Sony features a slightly smaller 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD with only 230k dots - not quite as sharp or vibrant. There’s no EVF, meaning you’re limited to composing via the rear screen, which in bright outdoors can pose challenges. Touchscreen functionality is absent in both models.

For users who value precise framing and shooting stability, particularly outdoors, the Olympus’s combination of a detailed LCD and EVF is a decisive advantage.

Image Stabilization and Focusing Capabilities

Both cameras incorporate optical image stabilization - vital given the Olympus’s extended zoom reaching 1200mm equivalent and the Sony’s more modest 162mm telephoto.

• Olympus’s dual stabilization system is quite effective, noticeably minimizing handshake blur during handheld telephoto shots or low shutter speeds. This boosted the keeper rate significantly in my telephoto wildlife trials.

• Sony’s stabilization is basic but sufficient for casual shooting. However, it’s less capable at longer focal lengths or in low-light conditions.

Autofocus performance reveals a gulf reflective of their target audiences:

• The Olympus features contrast-detection AF with face detection, center-weighted and multi-area focus modes, continuous AF, and impressive tracking capabilities. Its zoom versatility is complemented by a relatively quick AF acquisition, even at maximum zoom.

• The Sony relies on a simpler AF system with contrast detection and limited continuous focus, lacking manual focus adjustments. Focus accuracy was generally satisfactory for daylight snapshots but tended to hunt noticeably in dimmer interiors or macro scenarios.

For wildlife or sports photographers needing quick and reliable autofocus on moving subjects, the Olympus is the far superior performer.

Lens and Zoom Range: Versatility vs. Simplicity

Olympus’s fixed zoom lens offers an extraordinary 24-1200mm equivalent focal range with a bright F2.9 aperture at wide-angle tapering to F6.5 at telephoto. This 50x zoom range is a hallmark of bridge cameras, granting users the latitude to shoot sweeping landscapes, tight wildlife portraits, distant sporting action, and close-up macro images with a single tool.

The Sony W810’s lens covers a modest 27-162mm equivalent (6x zoom) with an F3.5-6.5 aperture range. It’s tailored for quick family snaps and everyday photography but lacks the reach for specialized use. Macro focusing capabilities are undeclared and felt limited during my tests.

For photographers seeking one camera to cover a wide variety of subjects without changing lenses, the Olympus SP-100’s superzoom lens is unmatched in this pair.

Performance in Different Photography Genres

I put both cameras to the test across key photography disciplines. Below is a synopsis of their strengths and limitations by genre:

Portrait Photography

The Olympus’s face detection and aperture priority modes allow for appealing skin tone rendering and subject isolation with acceptable bokeh, especially at the wider apertures near 24mm focal length. Its eye detection AF is absent, which is a limitation but typical for bridge cameras of the era.

Sony W810’s portrait performance is adequate in well-lit situations but lacks manual exposure control to shape depth of field creatively. The lens aperture range and sensor limitations make achieving blurred backgrounds challenging.

Landscape Photography

Thanks to optical stabilization and the wide 24mm equivalent wide angle, the Olympus offers good dynamic range and strong color fidelity. Weather sealing is not present, which restricts rugged outdoor use, yet image quality enables fine detail capture in daylight.

Sony’s wider maximum aperture at 27mm and CCD sensor provide crisp daylight shots, but the limited zoom puts constraints on framing distant subjects.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The SP-100’s 50x zoom, continuous 7fps burst rate, and reliable AF tracking make it surprisingly capable for entry-level wildlife or sports photography. The combination allows capturing distant or fast-moving subjects with decent success.

Sony’s compact design and slower 1fps continuous shooting correspond to casual family-event use with minimal demand.

Street Photography

The Sony W810’s discreet size and lightweight build are major assets. It’s easy to pocket and quick to deploy, ideal for candid snaps. Olympus feels bulkier, requiring more deliberate handling, which may reduce spontaneity.

Macro Photography

The Olympus’s 1cm macro focus range is impressive, allowing close-ups with fine detail, aided by image stabilization. Sony lacks clear macro support, offering less versatility for close-up work.

Night and Astro Photography

Both cameras suffer from the sensor size constraint, but Olympus’s BSI-CMOS sensor and higher ISO ceiling enable more usable low-light images, with less noise and smoother shadows. Sony’s CCD sensor produces noisier and less detailed shots under dim conditions.

Video Recording

Olympus captures full HD (1920x1080) at 60fps - a boon for smooth video capture. It also offers an external microphone port supporting better audio quality.

Sony records at 1280x720 at 30fps, sufficient for casual video but lacking professional polish. No microphone input limits sound improvements.

Stabilization helps the Olympus’s video much more than the Sony’s.

Travel Photography

The Olympus’s versatility is its forte: from sweeping vistas to distant monuments, and occasional wildlife detail, it tackles most travel genres with aplomb, albeit with extra weight and size.

Sony’s slimness and ease of use make it a wonderful everyday traveler’s camera when packing light is paramount, though it sacrifices control and zoom.

Build, Weather Resistance, and Durability

Neither camera offers environmental sealing or ruggedized protection. Both should be handled with care in adverse conditions.

Olympus’s heavier, plastic body with rubberized grip feels solid and resilient for bridge cameras but it is not shockproof or weatherproof.

Sony’s ultracompact shell is light but fragile by comparison.

Battery Life and Storage

Olympus’s LI-92B battery delivers approximately 330 shots per charge - enough for a day’s dedicated shoot with some extra shots.

Sony’s NP-BN battery yields about 200 shots and requires more frequent recharging for extended outings.

Both rely on single SD card slots, though Sony also supports Memory Stick and microSD formats, increasing media compatibility.

Connectivity and Extras

The Olympus optionally supports wireless connectivity for remote control or image transfer (depending on region and accessory), includes HDMI out for display, and USB 2.0.

Sony omits HDMI and wireless features, relying solely on USB 2.0 for transfers.

Neither camera includes GPS or Bluetooth.

Comparative Image Samples and Scores

Olympus SP 100 front Olympus SP 100 screen back Sony W810 front Sony W810 screen back

Examining side-by-side samples reaffirms observations: Olympus images display better clarity in mixed lighting and zoomed shots, while Sony excels in daylight snapshots with its slightly higher resolution but noisier shadows.

Overall performance ratings (based on hands-on testing and technical data) place Olympus comfortably ahead for advanced features and versatility, whereas Sony slots in as a simple point-and-shoot.

Genre-specific scoring underscores Olympus’s advantage across wildlife, sports, macro, and video, with Sony holding ground mainly in street and casual travel photography.

Who Should Buy the Olympus SP-100?

• Enthusiasts and hobbyists who want a flexible superzoom bridge camera
• Wildlife photographers on a budget needing crazy zoom and decent AF tracking
• Travelers who prefer one camera to cover wide-angle to super-telephoto focal lengths
• Video shooters wanting full HD 60fps with mic input and stabilization
• Users valuing manual controls, exposure modes, and an EVF for critical framing

Caveats: Bulkier carrying, no rugged weatherproofing, and no RAW support limit professional use.

Who Should Opt for the Sony W810?

• Beginners or casual users prioritizing pocketability and simplicity
• Street photographers wanting a discreet and always-ready camera
• Families seeking straightforward snapshot capabilities on a budget
• Travelers needing ultra-compact gear without concern for manual control

Tradeoffs: Limited zoom, modest sensor, and minimal video and exposure options restrict creative control.

Closing Thoughts - Trust Your Use Case and Style

Choosing between Olympus’s SP-100 and Sony’s W810 boils down to balancing versatility against convenience. I have long seen that no camera can be the best at everything, but the SP-100’s abundant features, powerful optics, and better sensor technology offer striking value for those wanting to explore multiple photography genres seriously.

The Sony W810, meanwhile, remains an appealing, ultra-budget option for casual shooting and travel when carrying minimal gear is the priority.

Personally, after detailed hands-on testing, I’d recommend the SP-100 for any photographer who values creative control and optical reach without delving into interchangeable lens systems. The W810 can certainly be a secondary camera or starter unit but will leave enthusiasts wanting more swiftly.

Whichever you pick, understanding these models’ capabilities and real-world performance will help you set realistic expectations and make the most of your photographic adventures.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliations with Olympus or Sony. All assessments stem from extensive hands-on testing under varied photographic situations and direct comparisons using standard evaluation methods common in professional camera review.