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Samsung GX-1L vs Sony A550

Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Samsung GX-1L front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Samsung GX-1L
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 570g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Announced February 2006
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
  • Released December 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A100
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Samsung GX-1L vs Sony A550 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Samsung GX-1L versus Sony A550, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the GX-1L (6MP) and A550 (14MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The GX-1L was introduced 4 years before the A550 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Samsung GX-1L being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a short summation of how the GX-1L grades against the A550 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung GX-1L over the Sony A550

 GX-1L A550 

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Samsung GX-1L

 A550 GX-1L 
ReleasedDecember 2009February 2006Fresher by 46 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution922k210kCrisper screen (+712k dot)

Common features in the Samsung GX-1L and Sony A550

 GX-1L A550 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Samsung GX-1L has got outside dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 570 grams (1.26 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Samsung GX-1L versus Sony A550 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the GX-1L versus the A550.

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony A550 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GX-1L and A550 is 69 and 63 respectively.

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by looking at specifications. The graphic underneath should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX-1L and A550.

To sum up, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can count on the Sony A550 to resolve greater detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older GX-1L is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung GX-1L Portrait photography details
Sony A550 Portrait photography details
51
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no liveview
low megapixels (6MP)
72
manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung GX-1L
Street photography with Sony A550
60
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than average (570 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Samsung GX-1L Sports photography info
Sony A550 Sports photography info
39
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low battery power (480 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung GX-1L Travel photography info
Sony A550 Travel photography info
52
lighter than average (570g)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
low megapixels (6MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
52
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery power (480 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung GX-1L
Landscape photography with Sony A550
47
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.5")
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
missing Timelapse recording
66
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
low battery power (480 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung GX-1L as a Vlogging camera
Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
9
lack of video recording
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Samsung GX-1L vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung GX-1L and Sony A550
 Samsung GX-1LSony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Manufacturer Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung GX-1L Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2006-02-24 2009-12-09
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3008 x 2008 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens support Pentax KAF Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 151 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 210 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 96% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.50 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 570g (1.26 pounds) 632g (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") 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 - 480 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/MMC card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $0 $749