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Nikon Z6 II vs Sony A550

Portability
61
Imaging
77
Features
89
Overall
81
Nikon Z6 Mark II front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Nikon Z6 II vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Nikon Z6 II
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 705g - 134 x 101 x 70mm
  • Announced October 2020
  • Earlier Model is Nikon Z6
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
  • Earlier Model is Sony A100
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Nikon Z6 II vs Sony A550 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Nikon Z6 II and Sony A550, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Nikon and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the Z6 II (25MP) and A550 (14MP) and the Z6 II (Full frame) and A550 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

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The Z6 II was revealed 11 years later than the A550 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Nikon Z6 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the Z6 II matches up versus the A550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z6 II over the Sony A550

 Z6 II A550 
LaunchedOctober 2020December 2009More recent by 133 months
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution2100k922kCrisper display (+1178k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Nikon Z6 II

 A550 Z6 II 

Common features in the Nikon Z6 II and Sony A550

 Z6 II A550 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Nikon Z6 II vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Nikon Z6 II enjoys outer dimensions of 134mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") along with a weight of 705 grams (1.55 lbs) and the Sony A550 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Look at the Nikon Z6 II and Sony A550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the Z6 II vs the A550.

Nikon Z6 II vs Sony A550 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the Z6 II and A550 is 61 and 63 respectively.

Nikon Z6 II vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z6 II vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements purely by looking at specs. The photograph below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the Z6 II and A550.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The Z6 II using its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Nikon Z6 II will resolve extra detail because of its extra 11 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more modern Z6 II is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Nikon Z6 II vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z6 II vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z6 II vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z6 II Portrait photography info
Sony A550 Portrait photography info
86
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is fantastic (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
72
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z6 II Street photography advice
Sony A550 Street photography advice
78
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
weather proof
above average high ISO (51,200)
74
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon Z6 II
Sports photography with Sony A550
82
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is fantastic (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (410 per charge)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
terrible battery power (480 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z6 II Travel photography details
Sony A550 Travel photography details
66
weather proof
has bluetooth
provides touch to focus
sensor resolution is fantastic (25MP)
terrible battery pack (410 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
52
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (480 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z6 II Landscape photography highlights
Sony A550 Landscape photography highlights
82
you can focus manually
change lenses (Nikon Z mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is fantastic (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
above average high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
two card slots
terrible battery pack (410 CIPA)
66
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
terrible battery power (480 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z6 II Vlogging features
Sony A550 Vlogging features
36
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have external microphone socket
screen is not selfie friendly
9
can't record video
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Nikon Z6 II vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z6 II and Sony A550
 Nikon Z6 Mark IISony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Z6 Mark II Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2020-10-14 2009-12-09
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 23.9mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 858.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 25 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6048 x 4024 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 51200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 273 9
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon Z Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 15 143
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3.2 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 2,100k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 3,690k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 14.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes 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, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 144 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 56 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 56 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 28 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 28 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 28 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 705g (1.55 lbs) 632g (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 134 x 101 x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 807
Other
Battery life 410 images 480 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media CFexpress Type B / XQD SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Dual 1
Pricing at launch $1,997 $749