Nikon S9500 vs Sony A55

Below, we are analyzing the Nikon S9500 and Sony A55, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the S9500 (18MP) and the A55 (16MP) is fairly similar but the S9500 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The S9500 was released 2 years later than the A55 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Nikon S9500 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a short view of how the S9500 matches up vs the A55 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Nikon Coolpix S9500 & Sony SLT-A55. The complete galleries are available at Nikon S9500 Gallery & Sony A55 Gallery.

For those who are looking to carry your camera, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Nikon S9500 offers exterior measurements of 110mm x 60mm x 31mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Sony A55 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon S9500 and Sony A55 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the S9500 against the A55.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the S9500 and A55 is 92 and 67 respectively.

Usually, it can be hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reviewing technical specs. The graphic underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the S9500 and A55.

As you can tell, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The S9500 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Nikon S9500 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The fresher S9500 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.