Sigma DP1 vs Sony A550

The following is a detailed review of the Sigma DP1 and Sony A550, former is a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Sigma and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the DP1 (5MP) and A550 (14MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The DP1 was introduced 18 months before the A550 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Sigma DP1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short overview of how the DP1 scores vs the A550 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Sigma DP1 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The whole galleries are available at Sigma DP1 Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.

When you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sigma DP1 features physical dimensions of 113mm x 60mm x 50mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 270 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Sony A550 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Sigma DP1 and Sony A550 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the DP1 and the A550.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the DP1 and A550 is 87 and 63 respectively.

In many cases, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by going over a spec sheet. The image here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the DP1 and A550.

As you can see, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can expect the Sony A550 to deliver greater detail using its extra 9MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots more aggressively. The more aged DP1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.