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Sony A380 vs Sony W550

Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony A380 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A350
  • Successor is Sony A390
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Released July 2011
Photography Glossary

Sony A380 vs Sony W550 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Sony A380 vs Sony W550, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact and both are designed by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A380 (14MP) and the W550 (14MP) is very close but the A380 (APS-C) and W550 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

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The A380 was released 23 months earlier than the W550 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the A380 scores against the W550 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Sony W550

 A380 W550 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony A380

 W550 A380 
ReleasedJuly 2011August 2009Fresher by 23 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony A380 and Sony W550

 A380 W550 
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Sony A380 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony A380 provides external measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs) and the Sony W550 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Look at the Sony A380 vs Sony W550 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the A380 versus the W550.

Sony A380 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the A380 and W550 is 68 and 96 respectively.

Sony A380 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to see the gap in sensor sizing simply by viewing technical specs. The visual here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A380 and W550.

As you can tell, both of the cameras feature the identical resolution but not the same sensor sizing. The A380 has the larger sensor which will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult. The older A380 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A380 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A380 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A380 Portrait photography features
Sony W550 Portrait photography features
71
has manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
28
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A380 Street photography information
Sony W550 Street photography information
76
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A380 Sports photography advice
Sony W550 Sports photography advice
59
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
low battery power (500 CIPA)
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A380 Travel photography advice
Sony W550 Travel photography advice
53
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
low battery power (500 per charge)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
65
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A380 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low battery power (500 shots)
missing Timelapse function
42
fairly wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
manual mode not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A380
Vlogging with Sony W550
9
can't record video
29
fairly wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone support
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Sony A380 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A380 and Sony W550
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Category Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Released 2009-08-24 2011-07-24
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 519 gr (1.14 lbs) 110 gr (0.24 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 67 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 614 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single -
Retail pricing $899 $119