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Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A99

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37
Olympus VR-330 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Olympus VR-330
(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
  • Launched February 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus VR-320
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Announced December 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A900
  • Replacement is Sony A99 II
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Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A99 Overview

Here is a extended review of the Olympus VR-330 and Sony A99, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the VR-330 (14MP) and A99 (24MP) and the VR-330 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The VR-330 was announced 22 months earlier than the A99 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VR-330 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a short highlight of how the VR-330 scores against the A99 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-330 over the Sony A99

 VR-330 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Olympus VR-330

 A99 VR-330 
AnnouncedDecember 2012February 2011Fresher by 22 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k460kCrisper screen (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus VR-330 and Sony A99

 VR-330 A99 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus VR-330 offers 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) whilst the Sony A99 has proportions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check the Olympus VR-330 and Sony A99 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the VR-330 compared to the A99.

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VR-330 and A99 is 94 and 57 respectively.

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing purely by looking at specs. The photograph here will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the VR-330 and A99.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The VR-330 using its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh tougher and the Sony A99 will resolve greater detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older VR-330 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Portrait photography info
Sony A99 Portrait photography info
33
good resolution (14MP)
has face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
81
focusing manually
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Street photography factors
Sony A99 Street photography factors
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (158g)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
75
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proof
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Sports photography features
Sony A99 Sports photography features
47
excellent zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Travel photography details
Sony A99 Travel photography details
70
lighter than average (158 grams)
good resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (300mm)
no Time Lapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
60
weather proof
decent MP (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Landscape photography advice
Sony A99 Landscape photography advice
42
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proof
has double storage slots
terrible battery (500 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-330 Vlogging information
Sony A99 Vlogging information
32
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than average (158 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic port
76
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone port
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Olympus VR-330 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-330 and Sony A99
 Olympus VR-330Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VR-330 Sony SLT-A99
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-02-08 2012-12-12
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-300mm (12.5x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/250 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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 158g (0.35 pounds) 812g (1.79 pounds)
Dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 89
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1555
Other
Battery life - 500 images
Form 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
Storage media SD/SDHC Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots Single Two
Pricing at launch $220 $1,998