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Olympus 8010 vs Sony A550

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
29
Overall
33
Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus 8010
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 245g - 98 x 64 x 24mm
  • Introduced February 2010
  • Alternate Name is mju Tough 8010
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced December 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A100
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Olympus 8010 vs Sony A550 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus 8010 and Sony A550, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the 8010 (13MP) and the A550 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the 8010 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The 8010 was released 2 months after the A550 and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 8010 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise view of how the 8010 grades versus the A550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 8010 over the Sony A550

 8010 A550 

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus 8010

 A550 8010 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus 8010 and Sony A550

 8010 A550 
AnnouncedFebruary 2010December 2009Same generation
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 8010 offers outside measurements of 98mm x 64mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 0.9") along with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony A550 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Olympus 8010 and Sony A550 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the 8010 compared to the A550.

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the 8010 and A550 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes just by checking out technical specs. The image below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the 8010 and A550.

As you have seen, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The 8010 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A550 will produce extra detail as a result of its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus 8010
Portrait photography with Sony A550
28
decent sensor resolution (13 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
72
you can focus manually
decent MP (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus 8010
Street photography with Sony A550
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than others (245g)
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 8010 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A550 as a Sports photography camera
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (13MP)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
not so great battery (480 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 8010 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
64
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (13MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (245 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
52
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
not so great battery (480 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 8010 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
40
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (13MP)
weather proofing
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
66
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
not so great battery (480 per charge)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus 8010
Vlogging with Sony A550
27
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than others (245g)
9
can't record video
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Olympus 8010 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 8010 and Sony A550
 Olympus Stylus Tough 8010Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Also called mju Tough 8010 -
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-02-02 2009-12-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 13 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 64 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1/4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 245 grams (0.54 lbs) 632 grams (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 64 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 0.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 807
Other
Battery life - 480 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $600 $749