Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550
94 Imaging
37 Features
38 Overall
37
63 Imaging
54 Features
65 Overall
58
Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 1600
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
- 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
- Revealed February 2011
- Previous Model is Olympus VR-320
(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
- Previous Model is Sony A100
Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550 Overview
In this article, we are matching up the Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the VR-330 (14MP) and the A550 (14MP) is fairly close but the VR-330 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideThe VR-330 was brought out 15 months after the A550 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VR-330 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise summation of how the VR-330 grades against the A550 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VR-330 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The entire galleries are available at Olympus VR-330 Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus VR-330 over the Sony A550
VR-330 | A550 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | February 2011 | December 2009 | Newer by 15 months |
Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus VR-330
A550 | VR-330 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | Dial precise focusing | |||
Display type | Tilting | Fixed | Tilting display | |
Display resolution | 922k | 460k | Clearer display (+462k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus VR-330 and Sony A550
VR-330 | A550 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display sizing | 3" | 3" | Equivalent display sizing | |
Selfie screen | Absent selfie screen | |||
Touch friendly display | Absent Touch friendly display |
Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus VR-330 has got outside measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along 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") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).
Take a look at the Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the VR-330 and the A550.
Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VR-330 and A550 is 94 and 63 respectively.
Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison
Typically, its hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specs. The picture below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the VR-330 and A550.
All in all, both of the cameras offer the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor dimensions. The VR-330 comes with the smaller sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging. The younger VR-330 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.
Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550 Specifications
Olympus VR-330 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Olympus | Sony |
Model | Olympus VR-330 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Entry-Level DSLR |
Revealed | 2011-02-08 | 2009-12-09 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | TruePic III | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14 megapixels | 14 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 4288 x 3216 | 4592 x 3056 |
Highest native ISO | 1600 | 12800 |
Minimum native ISO | 80 | 200 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens focal range | 24-300mm (12.5x) | - |
Maximal aperture | f/3.0-5.9 | - |
Macro focus range | 1cm | - |
Total lenses | - | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display diagonal | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 460k dots | 922k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Display technology | TFT Color LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 95 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.53x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 4 seconds | 30 seconds |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/2000 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
Continuous shutter rate | - | 7.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 4.70 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 |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | - | 1/160 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) | - |
Highest video resolution | 1280x720 | None |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | - |
Mic port | ||
Headphone port | ||
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 sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 158g (0.35 lbs) | 632g (1.39 lbs) |
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 Overall 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 photos |
Type of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery model | LI-42B | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Retail pricing | $220 | $749 |