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Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37
Olympus VR-330 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus VR-330
(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
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
  • Previous Model is Sony A100
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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.

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The 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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-330 over the Sony A550

 VR-330 A550 
ReleasedFebruary 2011December 2009Newer by 15 months

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus VR-330

 A550 VR-330 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VR-330 and Sony A550

 VR-330 A550 
Display sizing3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VR-330 and A550 is 94 and 63 respectively.

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-330 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
33
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Street photography details
Sony A550 Street photography details
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (158 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Sports photography details
Sony A550 Sports photography details
47
long zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery life (480 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Travel photography information
Sony A550 Travel photography information
70
lighter than average (158 grams)
resolution is good (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (300mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
52
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery life (480 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A550 Landscape photography highlights
42
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
66
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low battery life (480 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-330 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
32
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
lighter than average (158 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone support
9
no video shooting
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Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-330 and Sony A550
 Olympus VR-330Sony 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