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Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A550

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36
Olympus VR-320 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus VR-320
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • Later Model is Olympus VR-330
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
  • Released December 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A100
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Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A550 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus VR-320 and Sony A550, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VR-320 (14MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very close but the VR-320 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The VR-320 was unveiled 20 months later than the A550 making them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VR-320 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short highlight of how the VR-320 scores versus the A550 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VR-320 over the Sony A550

 VR-320 A550 
ReleasedJuly 2011December 2009More recent by 20 months

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus VR-320

 A550 VR-320 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VR-320 and Sony A550

 VR-320 A550 
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus VR-320 comes with outside dimensions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony A550 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Look at the Olympus VR-320 and Sony A550 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the VR-320 compared to the A550.

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the VR-320 and A550 is 94 and 63 respectively.

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to envision the difference in sensor measurements only by looking through specs. The visual underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the VR-320 and A550.

All in all, the two cameras come with the identical MP but not the same sensor measurements. The VR-320 has the smaller sensor which should make getting bokeh more challenging. The fresher VR-320 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VR-320
Portrait photography with Sony A550
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
offers face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
72
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Street photography info
Sony A550 Street photography info
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (158g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VR-320
Sports photography with Sony A550
47
great zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
low battery (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-320 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
70
lighter than others in class (158g)
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
52
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
low battery (480 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-320 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
42
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
66
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
low battery (480 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Vlogging information
Sony A550 Vlogging information
32
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than others in class (158g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic support
9
no video
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Olympus VR-320 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-320 and Sony A550
 Olympus VR-320Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VR-320 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-07-19 2009-12-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-300mm (12.5x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.70 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 158 grams (0.35 pounds) 632 grams (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 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 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-42B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $179 $749