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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W550

Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
26
Overall
33
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Released January 2012
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Announced July 2011
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W550 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W550, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the W550 (14MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VG-160 was launched 6 months after the W550 so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the VG-160 matches up vs the W550 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Sony W550

 VG-160 W550 

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Olympus VG-160

 W550 VG-160 

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Sony W550

 VG-160 W550 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012July 2011Same generation
Manual focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-160 has got outer dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony W550 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W550 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the VG-160 compared to the W550.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the VG-160 and W550 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions only by going through specs. The picture below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-160 and W550.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact resolution so you should expect comparable quality of photographs though you should really factor the release date of the cameras into account.

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography highlights
Sony W550 Portrait photography highlights
34
megapixel count good (14MP)
includes face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
28
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Street photography camera
Sony W550 as a Street photography camera
56
lighter than others in class (125g)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Sports photography info
Sony W550 Sports photography info
27
megapixel count good (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery power (165 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography information
Sony W550 Travel photography information
66
lighter than others in class (125 grams)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery power (165 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Landscape photography info
Sony W550 Landscape photography info
37
decently wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3")
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery power (165 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
42
rather wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VG-160
Vlogging with Sony W550
30
decently wide (26mm)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than others in class (125g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
29
rather wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
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Olympus VG-160 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Sony W550
 Olympus VG-160Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VG-160 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Category Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Released 2012-01-10 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus distance 7cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.80 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125g (0.28 pounds) 110g (0.24 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 165 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-70B NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single -
Pricing at release $90 $119