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Sony A7R III vs Sony A550

Portability
63
Imaging
78
Features
93
Overall
84
Sony Alpha A7R III front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Sony A7R III vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Sony A7R III
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Expand to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 657g - 127 x 96 x 74mm
  • Launched October 2017
  • Superseded the Sony A7R II
  • Newer Model is Sony A7R IV
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
  • Introduced December 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A100
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Sony A7R III vs Sony A550 Overview

The following is a in depth review of the Sony A7R III versus Sony A550, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are produced by Sony. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the A7R III (42MP) and A550 (14MP) and the A7R III (Full frame) and A550 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A7R III was revealed 7 years after the A550 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A7R III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the A7R III grades vs the A550 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A7R III over the Sony A550

 A7R III A550 
IntroducedOctober 2017December 2009Newer by 96 months
Screen resolution1440k922kCrisper screen (+518k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony A7R III

 A550 A7R III 

Common features in the Sony A7R III and Sony A550

 A7R III A550 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Sony A7R III vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A7R III features physical measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 657 grams (1.45 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A7R III versus Sony A550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the A7R III compared to the A550.

Sony A7R III vs Sony A550 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A7R III and A550 is 63 and 63 respectively.

Sony A7R III vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Sony A7R III vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to see the gap in sensor dimensions only by viewing specifications. The image underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the A7R III and A550.

Plainly, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The A7R III having a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Sony A7R III will result in more detail because of its extra 28 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The younger A7R III will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Sony A7R III vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Sony A7R III vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7R III vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A7R III Portrait photography advice
Sony A550 Portrait photography advice
86
manual focus
great sensor resolution (42 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A7R III Street photography advice
Sony A550 Street photography advice
79
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
offers touch to focus
environment proof
very good ISO range (32,000)
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony A7R III Sports photography features
Sony A550 Sports photography features
89
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor resolution (42MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
good battery life (650 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low battery power (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A7R III Travel photography advice
Sony A550 Travel photography advice
74
good battery life (650 CIPA)
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
offers touch to focus
great sensor resolution (42 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
52
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery power (480 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony A7R III Landscape photography features
Sony A550 Landscape photography features
87
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor resolution (42 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
very good ISO range (32,000)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
good battery life (650 per charge)
has double storage slots
66
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
low battery power (480 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A7R III Vlogging info
Sony A550 Vlogging info
37
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes external microphone port
screen isn't selfie friendly
9
no video
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Sony A7R III vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7R III and Sony A550
 Sony Alpha A7R IIISony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A7R III Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2017-10-25 2009-12-09
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz X Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 42 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 7952 x 5304 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 32000 12800
Max boosted ISO 102400 -
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Min boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 425 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 121 143
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,440k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 3,686k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 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 no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash options Off, Auto, Fill-flash, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) -
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 657g (1.45 lbs) 632g (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 127 x 96 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 100 66
DXO Color Depth rating 26.0 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.7 11.8
DXO Low light rating 3523 807
Other
Battery life 650 shots 480 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FZ100 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Two SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II support on one) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Two 1
Retail price $2,800 $749