Olympus Tough-3000 vs Sony W550

Below, we are looking at the Olympus Tough-3000 versus Sony W550, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the Tough-3000 (12MP) and the W550 (14MP) is very comparable and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The Tough-3000 was manufactured 18 months before the W550 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus Tough-3000 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the Tough-3000 matches up vs the W550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus Tough-3000 Gallery and Sony W550 Gallery.

If you are planning to carry your camera, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus Tough-3000 has physical dimensions of 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") along with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony W550 has proportions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Compare the Olympus Tough-3000 versus Sony W550 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the Tough-3000 compared to the W550.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the Tough-3000 and W550 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Often, it is very hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing merely by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the Tough-3000 and W550.

As you can see, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You should expect to see the Sony W550 to produce extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older Tough-3000 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.