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Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A55

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37
Olympus VR-330 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A55 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
  • Replaced the Olympus VR-320
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2010
  • Refreshed by Sony A57
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Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A55 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus VR-330 and Sony A55, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VR-330 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is relatively close but the VR-330 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The VR-330 was unveiled 6 months after the A55 and they are of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus VR-330 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the VR-330 scores against the A55 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-330 over the Sony A55

 VR-330 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Olympus VR-330

 A55 VR-330 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus VR-330 and Sony A55

 VR-330 A55 
IntroducedFebruary 2011August 2010Same age
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus VR-330 enjoys exterior measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony A55 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VR-330 and Sony A55 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the VR-330 against the A55.

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VR-330 and A55 is 94 and 67 respectively.

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions only by looking through specs. The image below may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the VR-330 and A55.

All in all, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The VR-330 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh trickier and the Sony A55 will provide you with more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots more aggressively.

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Portrait photography info
Sony A55 Portrait photography info
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
features face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VR-330
Street photography with Sony A55
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (158 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
77
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VR-330
Sports photography with Sony A55
47
amazing zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
not so great battery (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus VR-330
Travel photography with Sony A55
70
lighter than competition in class (158 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
62
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-330 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A55 as a Landscape photography camera
42
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
67
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
not so great battery (380 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Vlogging information
Sony A55 Vlogging information
32
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (158g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
78
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic jack
Photography Glossary

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-330 and Sony A55
 Olympus VR-330Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VR-330 Sony SLT-A55
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-02-08 2010-08-24
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-300mm (12.5x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 158 grams (0.35 lbs) 500 grams (1.10 lbs)
Physical dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-42B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $220 $800