Olympus 8000 vs Sony A100

In this write-up, we are looking at the Olympus 8000 and Sony A100, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the 8000 (12MP) and the A100 (10MP) is very well matched but the 8000 (1/2.3") and A100 (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The 8000 was announced 2 years after the A100 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus 8000 being a Compact camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short highlight of how the 8000 matches up versus the A100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A100. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus 8000 Gallery & Sony A100 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus 8000 comes with physical measurements of 95mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 182 grams (0.40 lbs) while the Sony A100 has proportions of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus 8000 and Sony A100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the 8000 and the A100.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 8000 and A100 is 94 and 64 respectively.

Normally, its tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizes simply by reading through technical specs. The picture underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the 8000 and A100.

As you can tell, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The 8000 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Olympus 8000 will give you greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The younger 8000 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.