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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A550

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Olympus XZ-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 346g - 113 x 65 x 48mm
  • Introduced December 2012
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
  • Earlier Model is Sony A100
Photography Glossary

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A550 Overview

Below is a extended comparison of the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A550, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very similar but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and A550 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor size.

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The XZ-2 iHS was revealed 3 years later than the A550 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the XZ-2 iHS grades vs the A550 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Sony A550

 XZ-2 iHS A550 
ReleasedDecember 2012December 2009More recent by 37 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 A550 XZ-2 iHS 
Display resolution922k920kCrisper display (+2k dot)

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony A550

 XZ-2 iHS A550 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS provides outside measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") along with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A550 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the XZ-2 iHS and the A550.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A550 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-2 iHS and A550 is 85 and 63 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by going over specs. The visual underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-2 iHS and A550.

All in all, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The XZ-2 iHS having a tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A550 will offer you extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The more recent XZ-2 iHS will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography highlights
Sony A550 Portrait photography highlights
46
you can focus manually
has face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography features
Sony A550 Street photography features
66
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (346 grams)
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Sports photography with Sony A550
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking autofocus
good battery power (340 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect AF
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery life (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography details
Sony A550 Travel photography details
61
good battery power (340 per charge)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (346 grams)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
52
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery life (480 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography factors
Sony A550 Landscape photography factors
55
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (340 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
lack of Time Lapse recording
66
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
terrible battery life (480 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging details
Sony A550 Vlogging details
36
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
heavier than competition (346g)
9
can't record video
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony A550
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-12-18 2009-12-09
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/1.8-2.5 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 920k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 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 Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 346 grams (0.76 lb) 632 grams (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 49 66
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 11.8
DXO Low light score 216 807
Other
Battery life 340 images 480 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-90B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail cost $450 $749