Pentax Q vs Sony A550

In this article, we are reviewing the Pentax Q and Sony A550, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the Q (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the Q (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The Q was brought out 19 months later than the A550 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summation of how the Q scores against the A550 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax Q & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The entire galleries are provided at Pentax Q Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Pentax Q provides outside measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") having a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Pentax Q and Sony A550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the Q and the A550.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the Q and A550 is 93 and 63 respectively.

Usually, it is tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through specs. The visual underneath should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the Q and A550.

All in all, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The Q featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh harder and the Sony A550 will produce extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images far more aggressively. The more modern Q is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.