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Canon A480 vs Sony W550

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
13
Overall
25
Canon PowerShot A480 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Canon A480 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Canon A480
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-122mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 140g - 92 x 62 x 31mm
  • Introduced January 2009
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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Canon A480 vs Sony W550 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Canon A480 versus Sony W550, both Ultracompact cameras by competitors Canon and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the A480 (10MP) and W550 (14MP) but they possess the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The A480 was introduced 3 years earlier than the W550 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the A480 matches up against the W550 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary

				

Reasons to pick Canon A480 over the Sony W550

 A480 W550 

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Canon A480

 W550 A480 
IntroducedJuly 2011January 2009Fresher by 30 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution230k115kCrisper display (+115k dot)

Common features in the Canon A480 and Sony W550

 A480 W550 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Canon A480 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon A480 comes with outer dimensions of 92mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Sony W550 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Contrast the Canon A480 versus Sony W550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the A480 compared to the W550.

Canon A480 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the A480 and W550 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Canon A480 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Canon A480 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing simply by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the A480 and W550.

Clearly, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can anticipate the Sony W550 to result in more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older A480 will be behind in sensor technology.

Canon A480 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Canon A480 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A480 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A480 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W550 as a Portrait photography camera
25
great flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
28
good resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A480 Street photography features
Sony W550 Street photography features
47
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A480 Sports photography details
Sony W550 Sports photography details
16
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A480 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
50
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
65
good resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A480 Landscape photography advice
Sony W550 Landscape photography advice
22
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
small screen (2.5")
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
42
quite wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A480 Vlogging advice
Sony W550 Vlogging advice
22
wide angle not good (37mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing microphone socket
29
quite wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone socket
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Canon A480 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A480 and Sony W550
 Canon PowerShot A480Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot A480 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Introduced 2009-01-15 2011-07-24
Physical type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 115 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/500 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 140g (0.31 pounds) 110g (0.24 pounds)
Dimensions 92 x 62 x 31mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 1.2") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID 2 x AA NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One -
Retail price $210 $119