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Nikon Z5 vs Sony W550

Portability
62
Imaging
76
Features
86
Overall
80
Nikon Z5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Nikon Z5 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Nikon Z5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 675g - 134 x 101 x 70mm
  • Launched July 2020
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Revealed July 2011
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Nikon Z5 vs Sony W550 Overview

Following is a in depth analysis of the Nikon Z5 and Sony W550, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Nikon and Sony. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the Z5 (24MP) and W550 (14MP) and the Z5 (Full frame) and W550 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The Z5 was released 9 years after the W550 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Nikon Z5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the Z5 scores vs the W550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z5 over the Sony W550

 Z5 W550 
RevealedJuly 2020July 2011More modern by 110 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Nikon Z5

 W550 Z5 

Common features in the Nikon Z5 and Sony W550

 Z5 W550 
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Nikon Z5 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Nikon Z5 offers external measurements of 134mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") along with a weight of 675 grams (1.49 lbs) while the Sony W550 has measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Check the Nikon Z5 and Sony W550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the Z5 versus the W550.

Nikon Z5 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Z5 and W550 is 62 and 96 respectively.

Nikon Z5 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to see the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading through technical specs. The picture underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the Z5 and W550.

As you have seen, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The Z5 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Nikon Z5 will give more detail as a result of its extra 10MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The more modern Z5 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon Z5 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z5 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z5 Portrait photography information
Sony W550 Portrait photography information
85
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
28
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon Z5
Street photography with Sony W550
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
comes with focus by touch
weather proof
great ISO range (51,200)
heavier than average (675g)
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Nikon Z5 Sports photography details
Sony W550 Sports photography details
82
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
great battery life (470 per charge)
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps low (4.5 fps)
35
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
68
great battery life (470 CIPA)
weather proof
supports bluetooth
comes with focus by touch
MP count good (24 megapixels)
heavier than average (675g)
does not have a selfie friendly display
65
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z5 Landscape photography info
Sony W550 Landscape photography info
86
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon Z mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
great ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
great battery life (470 shots)
2 card slots
42
pretty wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z5 Vlogging factors
Sony W550 Vlogging factors
34
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have mic support
does not have a selfie friendly display
heavier than average (675g)
29
pretty wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
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Nikon Z5 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z5 and Sony W550
 Nikon Z5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Z5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Class Advanced Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2020-07-20 2011-07-24
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 6 BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 23.9mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 858.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 6016 x 4016 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 51200 3200
Max boosted ISO 102400 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Min boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 273 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon Z fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 15 -
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,690k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.5fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.80 m
Flash settings Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 675g (1.49 lb) 110g (0.24 lb)
Physical dimensions 134 x 101 x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 470 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL15c NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 -
Launch price $1,399 $119