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Canon 10D vs Sony A55

Portability
56
Imaging
43
Features
36
Overall
40
Canon EOS 10D front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Canon 10D vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Canon 10D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 875g - 150 x 107 x 75mm
  • Revealed March 2003
  • Refreshed by Canon 20D
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed August 2010
  • Renewed by Sony A57
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Canon 10D vs Sony A55 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Canon 10D versus Sony A55, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Canon and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the 10D (6MP) and A55 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The 10D was introduced 8 years prior to the A55 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon 10D being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the 10D grades vs the A55 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon 10D over the Sony A55

 10D A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Canon 10D

 A55 10D 
RevealedAugust 2010March 2003More recent by 90 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution921k118kClearer screen (+803k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Canon 10D and Sony A55

 10D A55 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Canon 10D vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon 10D features external dimensions of 150mm x 107mm x 75mm (5.9" x 4.2" x 3.0") and a weight of 875 grams (1.93 lbs) while the Sony A55 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Canon 10D versus Sony A55 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the 10D versus the A55.

Canon 10D vs Sony A55 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 10D and A55 is 56 and 67 respectively.

Canon 10D vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Canon 10D vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements only by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the 10D and A55.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You should expect the Sony A55 to give greater detail using its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older 10D is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon 10D vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Canon 10D vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 10D vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 10D Portrait photography advice
Sony A55 Portrait photography advice
49
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have liveview
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
73
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 10D Street photography features
Sony A55 Street photography features
51
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
77
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Canon 10D Sports photography factors
Sony A55 Sports photography factors
38
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery life (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 10D as a Travel photography camera
Sony A55 as a Travel photography camera
41
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
resolution not great (6MP)
display is not selfie friendly
62
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery life (380 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 10D Landscape photography highlights
Sony A55 Landscape photography highlights
45
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Canon EF mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (1.8 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
67
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
low battery life (380 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 10D Vlogging features
Sony A55 Vlogging features
9
can't shoot video
78
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic jack
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Canon 10D vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 10D and Sony A55
 Canon EOS 10DSony SLT-A55
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model type Canon EOS 10D Sony SLT-A55
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2003-03-31 2010-08-24
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.7 x 15.1mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 342.8mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 6MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3072 x 2048 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 7 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 250 143
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 1.8 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 118k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/200 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 875 gr (1.93 pounds) 500 gr (1.10 pounds)
Dimensions 150 x 107 x 75mm (5.9" x 4.2" x 3.0") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 57 73
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.9 12.4
DXO Low light rating 571 816
Other
Battery life - 380 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $1,900 $800