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Sigma SD15 vs Sony A550

Portability
59
Imaging
43
Features
45
Overall
43
Sigma SD15 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
53
Features
65
Overall
57

Sigma SD15 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Sigma SD15
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 750g - 144 x 107 x 81mm
  • Revealed February 2010
  • Succeeded the Sigma SD14
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
  • Revealed December 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A100
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Sigma SD15 vs Sony A550 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Sigma SD15 versus Sony A550, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Sigma and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the SD15 (5MP) and A550 (14MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The SD15 was released 3 months after the A550 so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sigma SD15 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SD15 grades against the A550 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sigma SD15 over the Sony A550

 SD15 A550 

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sigma SD15

 A550 SD15 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kCrisper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Sigma SD15 and Sony A550

 SD15 A550 
RevealedFebruary 2010December 2009Similar generation
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Sigma SD15 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sigma SD15 features outer measurements of 144mm x 107mm x 81mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.2") and a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has measurements 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 Sigma SD15 versus Sony A550 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the SD15 and the A550.

Sigma SD15 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SD15 and A550 is 59 and 63 respectively.

Sigma SD15 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Sigma SD15 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading through specs. The image underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SD15 and A550.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You should count on the Sony A550 to give you greater detail as a result of its extra 9MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs much more aggressively.

Sigma SD15 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Sigma SD15 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma SD15 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma SD15 Portrait photography information
Sony A550 Portrait photography information
49
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
MP count low (5MP)
71
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sigma SD15 Street photography highlights
Sony A550 Street photography highlights
52
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
no image stabilization
74
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sigma SD15 Sports photography details
Sony A550 Sports photography details
38
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
MP count low (5MP)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery power (480 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sigma SD15
Travel photography with Sony A550
42
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
MP count low (5 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
51
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (480 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sigma SD15 Landscape photography info
Sony A550 Landscape photography info
50
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sigma SA mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
MP count low (5 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
66
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
not so great battery power (480 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma SD15 Vlogging highlights
Sony A550 Vlogging highlights
9
no video recording
9
no video
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Sigma SD15 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma SD15 and Sony A550
 Sigma SD15Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Brand Name Sigma Sony
Model type Sigma SD15 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-02-20 2009-12-09
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip True II Bionz
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 20.7 x 13.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 285.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 5MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 2640 x 1760 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max boosted ISO 3200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Sigma SA Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 76 143
Focal length multiplier 1.7 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 96% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.6x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 750g (1.65 pounds) 632g (1.39 pounds)
Dimensions 144 x 107 x 81mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.2") 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 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $1,500 $749