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Sony A9 vs Sony A550

Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81
Sony Alpha A9 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Sony A9 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Revealed April 2017
  • Replacement is Sony A9 II
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced December 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A100
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Sony A9 vs Sony A550 Overview

The following is a comprehensive overview of the Sony A9 versus Sony A550, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are manufactured by Sony. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the A9 (24MP) and A550 (14MP) and the A9 (Full frame) and A550 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The A9 was released 7 years after the A550 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the A9 scores vs the A550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Sony A550

 A9 A550 
IntroducedApril 2017December 2009Newer by 90 months
Display resolution1440k922kClearer display (+518k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony A9

 A550 A9 

Common features in the Sony A9 and Sony A550

 A9 A550 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Sony A9 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A9 enjoys exterior dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") with a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs) while the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Sony A9 versus Sony A550 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the A9 compared to the A550.

Sony A9 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A9 and A550 is 65 and 63 respectively.

Sony A9 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions only by researching a spec sheet. The pic here will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the A9 and A550.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The A9 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony A9 will result in greater detail as a result of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The fresher A9 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A9 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A9 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A9 Portrait photography information
Sony A550 Portrait photography information
83
focusing manually
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
72
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A9
Street photography with Sony A550
79
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
provides touch focus
weather proofing
good high ISO (51,200)
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sony A9 Sports photography highlights
Sony A550 Sports photography highlights
86
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
weather proofing
better than average battery (650 shots)
comes with phase detect autofocus
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery life (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A9 Travel photography information
Sony A550 Travel photography information
73
better than average battery (650 per charge)
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
provides touch focus
decent megapixels (24MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
52
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (480 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A9
Landscape photography with Sony A550
85
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
better than average battery (650 CIPA)
has dual storage slots
66
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
bad battery life (480 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A9 Vlogging info
Sony A550 Vlogging info
36
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have mic jack
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
9
can't record video
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Sony A9 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A9 and Sony A550
 Sony Alpha A9Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha A9 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2017-04-19 2009-12-09
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip BIONZ X Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.6 x 23.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 847.3mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 51200 12800
Max enhanced ISO 204800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 693 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 121 143
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,440k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 3,686k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 20.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Flash off, Autoflash, 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 673g (1.48 pounds) 632g (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 92 66
DXO Color Depth score 24.9 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score 13.3 11.8
DXO Low light score 3517 807
Other
Battery life 650 images 480 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FZ100 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 1
Pricing at release $4,498 $749