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Sigma SD1 vs Sony A55

Portability
77
Imaging
54
Features
43
Overall
49
Sigma SD1 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
55
Features
80
Overall
65

Sigma SD1 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Sigma SD1
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 0 - 0
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • n/ag - 146 x 113 x 80mm
  • Launched September 2010
  • Replacement is Sigma SD1 Merrill
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A57
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Sigma SD1 vs Sony A55 Overview

Below is a in depth assessment of the Sigma SD1 and Sony A55, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Sigma and Sony. The image resolution of the SD1 (15MP) and the A55 (16MP) is very similar and both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The SD1 was unveiled within a month of the A55 and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sigma SD1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SD1 scores versus the A55 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 over the Sony A55

 SD1 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sigma SD1

 A55 SD1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sigma SD1 and Sony A55

 SD1 A55 
IntroducedSeptember 2010August 2010Similar age
Manually focus More exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Sigma SD1 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sigma SD1 provides physical dimensions of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") having a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs) and the Sony A55 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Sigma SD1 and Sony A55 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the SD1 compared to the A55.

Sigma SD1 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD1 and A55 is 77 and 67 respectively.

Sigma SD1 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sigma SD1 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements just by going over a spec sheet. The visual below should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD1 and A55.

Clearly, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Sony A55 to offer extra detail having an extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos more aggressively.

Sigma SD1 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sigma SD1 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma SD1 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sigma SD1
Portrait photography with Sony A55
64
focusing manually
decent MP (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sigma SD1 Street photography highlights
Sony A55 Street photography highlights
62
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
low maximum ISO (0)
76
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sigma SD1
Sports photography with Sony A55
55
decent MP (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect AF
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sigma SD1 Travel photography information
Sony A55 Travel photography information
65
weather sealing
decent MP (15MP)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
61
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sigma SD1
Landscape photography with Sony A55
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sigma SA mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent MP (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low maximum ISO (0)
lack of Timelapse mode
67
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
not so great battery pack (380 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma SD1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A55 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
77
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic jack
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Sigma SD1 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma SD1 and Sony A55
 Sigma SD1Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Company Sigma Sony
Model Sigma SD1 Sony SLT-A55
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2010-09-21 2010-08-24
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Dual True II Bionz
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 24 x 16mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 384.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4800 x 3200 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO - 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO - 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 15
Cross focus points 2 3
Lens
Lens mount Sigma SA Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 76 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 96% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight - 500 grams (1.10 pounds)
Physical dimensions 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $2,339 $800