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Nikon D3300 vs Sony A550

Portability
69
Imaging
66
Features
72
Overall
68
Nikon D3300 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Nikon D3300 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Nikon D3300
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 430g - 124 x 98 x 76mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Succeeded the Nikon D3200
  • Renewed by Nikon D3400
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced December 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A100
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Nikon D3300 vs Sony A550 Overview

The following is a comprehensive comparison of the Nikon D3300 vs Sony A550, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the D3300 (24MP) and A550 (14MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizes (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The D3300 was announced 4 years after the A550 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the D3300 grades vs the A550 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3300 over the Sony A550

 D3300 A550 
IntroducedApril 2014December 2009Newer by 54 months

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Nikon D3300

 A550 D3300 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k921kSharper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D3300 and Sony A550

 D3300 A550 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Nikon D3300 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Nikon D3300 offers physical measurements of 124mm x 98mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 430 grams (0.95 lbs) while the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Nikon D3300 vs Sony A550 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the D3300 vs the A550.

Nikon D3300 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the D3300 and A550 is 69 and 63 respectively.

Nikon D3300 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3300 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions merely by going through specifications. The image underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the D3300 and A550.

To sum up, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should expect to see the Nikon D3300 to show extra detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The younger D3300 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon D3300 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3300 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3300 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3300 Portrait photography factors
Sony A550 Portrait photography factors
79
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW files
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3300 Street photography details
Sony A550 Street photography details
65
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (430 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3300 Sports photography features
Sony A550 Sports photography features
68
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
great battery pack (700 shots)
has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
low battery power (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D3300
Travel photography with Sony A550
67
great battery pack (700 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (430g)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
52
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery power (480 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3300 Landscape photography info
Sony A550 Landscape photography info
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
supports RAW files
great battery pack (700 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
66
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
low battery power (480 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3300 Vlogging details
Sony A550 Vlogging details
33
provides face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic socket
lighter than competition in class (430 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
9
can't shoot video
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Nikon D3300 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3300 and Sony A550
 Nikon D3300Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D3300 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2014-04-21 2009-12-09
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 4 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD (160 degree viewing angle) -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Off, Rear-curtain sync, Rear-curtain with slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p fps), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 430g (0.95 lbs) 632g (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 98 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.9" x 3.0") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 82 66
DXO Color Depth rating 24.3 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.8 11.8
DXO Low light rating 1385 807
Other
Battery life 700 pictures 480 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14a NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs (1-9 exposures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $500 $749