Pentax W80 vs Sony A550

Here is a in-depth analysis of the Pentax W80 versus Sony A550, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the W80 (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is pretty close but the W80 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

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The W80 was announced 5 months earlier than the A550 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax W80 being a Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the W80 grades vs the A550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax Optio W80 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The whole galleries are available at Pentax W80 Gallery and Sony A550 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry your camera often, you should take into account its weight and size. The Pentax W80 provides exterior dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst 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).

Compare the Pentax W80 versus Sony A550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the W80 vs the A550.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the W80 and A550 is 94 and 63 respectively.

Generally, it's hard to envision the gap in sensor sizing just by looking through specifications. The graphic below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the W80 and A550.

To sum up, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The W80 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A550 will render greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures more aggressively.