Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A560

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A560, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the VR-340 (16MP) and the A560 (14MP) is very similar but the VR-340 (1/2.3") and A560 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The VR-340 was launched 17 months after the A560 making them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera and the Sony A560 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the VR-340 grades against the A560 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus VR-340 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A560. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus VR-340 Gallery and Sony A560 Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VR-340 features external measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony A560 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Compare the Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A560 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the VR-340 and the A560.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VR-340 and A560 is 96 and 64 respectively.

Normally, its hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over specifications. The picture underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the VR-340 and A560.

To sum up, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The VR-340 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Olympus VR-340 will offer you greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The younger VR-340 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.