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Nikon D5200 vs Sony A550

Portability
66
Imaging
65
Features
77
Overall
69
Nikon D5200 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Nikon D5200
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Raise to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 555g - 129 x 98 x 78mm
  • Launched May 2013
  • Previous Model is Nikon D5100
  • Renewed by Nikon D5300
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
  • Launched December 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A100
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Nikon D5200 vs Sony A550 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Nikon D5200 versus Sony A550, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the D5200 (24MP) and A550 (14MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The D5200 was launched 3 years after the A550 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise overview of how the D5200 matches up vs the A550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5200 over the Sony A550

 D5200 A550 
LaunchedMay 2013December 2009More modern by 42 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Nikon D5200

 A550 D5200 
Display resolution922k921kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D5200 and Sony A550

 D5200 A550 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon D5200 features outside dimensions of 129mm x 98mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 3.1") and a weight of 555 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Sony A550 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon D5200 versus Sony A550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the D5200 compared to the A550.

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the D5200 and A550 is 66 and 63 respectively.

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes only by looking at specifications. The picture underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the D5200 and A550.

To sum up, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should anticipate the Nikon D5200 to give you more detail utilizing its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images more aggressively. The newer D5200 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5200 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5200 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A550 Portrait photography highlights
79
has manual focus
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW files
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5200 Street photography details
Sony A550 Street photography details
69
screen articulates fully
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5200 Sports photography highlights
Sony A550 Sports photography highlights
61
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
max fps low (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low battery (500 shots)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
low battery pack (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5200 Travel photography details
Sony A550 Travel photography details
69
good MP (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
low battery (500 CIPA)
52
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
low battery pack (480 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5200 Landscape photography details
Sony A550 Landscape photography details
70
has manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low battery (500 shots)
66
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
low battery pack (480 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D5200
Vlogging with Sony A550
71
screen is selfie friendly
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone support
lack of image stabilization
9
lack of video recording
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Nikon D5200 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5200 and Sony A550
 Nikon D5200Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D5200 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2013-05-16 2009-12-09
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 3 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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6000 x 4000 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 39 9
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 555 gr (1.22 lb) 632 gr (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 129 x 98 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 3.1") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 84 66
DXO Color Depth score 24.2 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score 13.9 11.8
DXO Low light score 1284 807
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 480 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL14 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $595 $749