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Sony a550 or Olympus E-620? Choosing a secondhand DSLR today

·4 mins
Gear talk

This was a popular thread on the old Hellophoto forum, and we’ve rewritten it from scratch as a guide for anyone eyeing these two on the secondhand market.

Back in 2009 these two mid-range DSLRs, both with in-body stabilisation and flip-out screens, were a classic head-scratcher for anyone stepping up from a compact. Today they turn up in drawers and online listings for very little, so the question is now “which is worth buying used, and what should I check?”

The quick spec picture

We’ve stuck to figures we could confirm from reliable reviews of the time.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

  • 14.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
  • Sensor-shift stabilisation (Sony called it SteadyShot INSIDE)
  • 3-inch, 921,600-dot screen that tilts up and down
  • About 5 frames per second normally, or 7 in a speed priority mode with focus and exposure locked
  • Two card slots: one for SD/SDHC and one for Memory Stick PRO Duo, with a switch to choose
  • Sony A-mount, NP-FM500H battery

Olympus E-620

  • 12.3 megapixel Four Thirds Live MOS sensor
  • Sensor-shift stabilisation
  • 2.7-inch fully articulated screen
  • About 4 frames per second
  • One card slot taking CompactFlash or xD-Picture Card
  • Four Thirds mount, BLS-1 battery

Sensor size: APS-C vs Four Thirds

The a550’s APS-C sensor is noticeably larger than the E-620’s Four Thirds chip. In practice that gives the Sony a modest edge in low light and slightly easier shallow depth of field. The Olympus has a 2x crop factor, which helps if you like birds and distant subjects, and its 4:3 shape suits prints and portraits nicely.

For daylight shooting both are fine. Neither is a high-ISO camera by modern standards.

Stabilisation in both bodies

Both cameras move the sensor to counter shake, which means every lens you mount is stabilised, including cheap old primes. That’s a real bonus on a budget and one of the reasons these bodies still make sense as learner cameras.

The lens mount question

This is the big one for anyone buying in today.

Sony A-mount is finished as a camera system. Sony quietly stopped selling A-mount bodies around 2021 and its A-mount lenses were listed as discontinued in 2022. The upside is a large secondhand pool of lenses, including older Minolta autofocus glass designed for the same mount. Sony also made adapters so A-mount lenses can be used on its mirrorless E-mount bodies, so a good lens isn’t a dead end if you upgrade later.

Four Thirds was superseded by Micro Four Thirds, the smaller mirrorless system. Four Thirds lenses can be used on Micro Four Thirds bodies through an adapter, though autofocus support varies by lens and body, so check before you rely on it. Many Four Thirds zooms were well regarded optically and often sell cheaply now.

Either way, you’re buying into a closed system. Buy the body for what it can do now, with a lens or two, rather than as the start of a long upgrade path.

What to check when buying used

Shutter count

DSLR shutters wear out eventually. Ask the seller for the shutter count. How you read it depends on the camera, and some tools that read counts from image files don’t support every model, so if the seller can’t tell you, judge wear from overall condition instead.

Sensor and mirror

Take a photo of a plain sky or white wall at a small aperture such as f/16 and look at it zoomed in. Dark spots are dust on the sensor, which can usually be cleaned. Scratches or marks that don’t move are a bigger worry. Look into the mirror box for damage and check the mirror moves cleanly.

Battery

Original batteries from this era are often tired. Ask whether the seller has a charger, test that the battery holds charge for a decent number of shots, and budget for a replacement.

Cards

This catches people out. The E-620 needs CompactFlash or xD, and xD cards are now hard to find new. CompactFlash is still around but you may need a reader. The a550 is easier, since its SD slot takes common SD and SDHC cards. Check what card comes with the camera before you hand over money.

The rest

Check every button, dial and the screen hinge, look for corrosion in the battery compartment, and listen for smooth autofocus.

So which one?

If you want the better low-light results and easy SD storage, the a550 is the simpler pick. If you like the idea of a smaller kit, a fully articulated screen and that extra reach from the 2x crop, the E-620 is charming, as long as you can sort out cards.

For the wider question of buying used safely, see our guide to buying and selling secondhand camera gear, and Consumer NZ has helpful general advice on your rights when buying.