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Nikon A100 vs Sony W550

Portability
96
Imaging
46
Features
29
Overall
39
Nikon Coolpix A100 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Nikon A100 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Nikon A100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Expand to 3200)
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 119g - 95 x 59 x 20mm
  • Revealed January 2016
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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Nikon A100 vs Sony W550 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Nikon A100 and Sony W550, both Ultracompact cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the A100 (20MP) and W550 (14MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A100 was manufactured 4 years later than the W550 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a quick overview of how the A100 matches up vs the W550 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon A100 over the Sony W550

 A100 W550 
IntroducedJanuary 2016July 2011More recent by 55 months

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Nikon A100

 W550 A100 
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Nikon A100 and Sony W550

 A100 W550 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Nikon A100 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon A100 enjoys outer measurements of 95mm x 59mm x 20mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Sony W550 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Look at the Nikon A100 and Sony W550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the A100 vs the W550.

Nikon A100 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the A100 and W550 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Nikon A100 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Nikon A100 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements merely by checking out a spec sheet. The visual below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the A100 and W550.

Clearly, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You can expect to see the Nikon A100 to provide extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more recent A100 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Nikon A100 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Nikon A100 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon A100 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon A100 Portrait photography info
Sony W550 Portrait photography info
39
good MP (20 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
28
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon A100 Street photography highlights
Sony W550 Street photography highlights
59
built in image stabilization (Digital)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon A100 Sports photography factors
Sony W550 Sports photography factors
48
built in image stabilization (Digital)
good MP (20MP)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery pack (250 shots)
continuous shooting slow (1.1 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon A100 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
70
great battery pack (250 shots)
good MP (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (26mm)
no Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)
65
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon A100 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
44
quite wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Digital)
good MP (20MP)
great battery pack (250 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse mode
42
relatively wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon A100
Vlogging with Sony W550
32
quite wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Digital)
includes face detection focusing
slow max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
29
relatively wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic socket
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Nikon A100 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon A100 and Sony W550
 Nikon Coolpix A100Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix A100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Revealed 2016-01-14 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 dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5152 x 3864 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 3200 -
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.2-6.5 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range 10cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.1fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at Auto ISO) 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, off, fill flash, slow sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 119g (0.26 lb) 110g (0.24 lb)
Physical dimensions 95 x 59 x 20mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.8") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 life 250 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL19 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One -
Retail pricing $162 $119