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Olympus VR-340 vs Sony W550

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus VR-340 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Olympus VR-340
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.0-5.7) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Revealed July 2011
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Olympus VR-340 vs Sony W550 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus VR-340 and Sony W550, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the VR-340 (16MP) and the W550 (14MP) is relatively similar and they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VR-340 was introduced 6 months after the W550 so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the VR-340 matches up vs the W550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Sony W550

 VR-340 W550 
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Olympus VR-340

 W550 VR-340 

Common features in the Olympus VR-340 and Sony W550

 VR-340 W550 
RevealedJanuary 2012July 2011Similar generation
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus VR-340 provides physical dimensions 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 W550 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus VR-340 and Sony W550 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the VR-340 against the W550.

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VR-340 and W550 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing technical specs. The image here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the VR-340 and W550.

As you can tell, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Olympus VR-340 to deliver extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots far more aggressively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Portrait photography features
Sony W550 Portrait photography features
34
good resolution (16MP)
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
28
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Street photography information
Sony W550 Street photography information
63
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (125 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VR-340
Sports photography with Sony W550
44
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
has tracking focus
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Travel photography features
Sony W550 Travel photography features
69
lighter than competition (125 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
65
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (26mm)
no Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus VR-340
Landscape photography with Sony W550
43
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
42
rather wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Vlogging information
Sony W550 Vlogging information
33
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
lighter than competition (125 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
29
rather wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support
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Olympus VR-340 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-340 and Sony W550
 Olympus VR-340Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VR-340 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Class Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Revealed 2012-01-10 2011-07-24
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-240mm (10.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.7 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus range - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate - 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.80 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 125g (0.28 lb) 110g (0.24 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model LI-50B NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 -
Launch price $130 $119