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Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550

Portability
82
Imaging
61
Features
80
Overall
68
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Panasonic GX9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 407g - 124 x 72 x 47mm
  • Launched February 2018
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced December 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A100
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Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550 Overview

Below is a extensive overview of the Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the GX9 (20MP) and A550 (14MP) and the GX9 (Four Thirds) and A550 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The GX9 was released 8 years later than the A550 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GX9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise view of how the GX9 matches up against the A550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX9 over the Sony A550

 GX9 A550 
IntroducedFebruary 2018December 2009More recent by 100 months
Screen resolution1240k922kClearer screen (+318k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Panasonic GX9

 A550 GX9 

Common features in the Panasonic GX9 and Sony A550

 GX9 A550 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GX9 has got outside measurements of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") and a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GX9 vs 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 differ depending on the lens you select during that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the GX9 against the A550.

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GX9 and A550 is 82 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements only by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GX9 and A550.

As you can see, each of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GX9 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Panasonic GX9 will result in greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The newer GX9 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Portrait photography information
Sony A550 Portrait photography information
76
has manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
72
focusing manually
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Street photography advice
Sony A550 Street photography advice
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Sports photography info
Sony A550 Sports photography info
73
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
low battery (260 shots)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery pack (480 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GX9
Travel photography with Sony A550
71
has bluetooth
supports focus via touch
good MP (20MP)
built-in flash
low battery (260 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
52
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (480 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GX9
Landscape photography with Sony A550
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
no low pass filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
low battery (260 per charge)
66
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
terrible battery pack (480 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Vlogging features
Sony A550 Vlogging features
35
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have microphone port
9
can't record video
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Panasonic GX9 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX9 and Sony A550
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2018-02-13 2009-12-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 49 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,240 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,760 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 9.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 407 grams (0.90 pounds) 632 grams (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 72 x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 807
Other
Battery life 260 shots 480 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 photos over 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $1,000 $749