Olympus 8000 vs Sony A550

In this article, we are contrasting the Olympus 8000 vs Sony A550, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the 8000 (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very comparable but the 8000 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The 8000 was introduced 5 months before the A550 which means that they are both of a similar age. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus 8000 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the 8000 matches up versus the A550 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus 8000 Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 8000 has got outer dimensions of 95mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 182 grams (0.40 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus 8000 vs Sony A550 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that moment. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the 8000 and the A550.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 8000 and A550 is 94 and 63 respectively.

Typically, it can be hard to envision the gap in sensor sizing purely by seeing technical specs. The photograph underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 8000 and A550.

As you have seen, the two cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The 8000 using its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Sony A550 will show extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively.