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Sony A500 vs Sony H55

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony A500 vs Sony H55 Key Specs

Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Successor is Sony A560
Sony H55
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 103 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2010
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Sony A500 vs Sony H55 Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Sony A500 versus Sony H55, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are designed by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A500 (12MP) and the H55 (14MP) is fairly close but the A500 (APS-C) and H55 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

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The A500 was announced 9 months earlier than the H55 so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony H55 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the A500 matches up vs the H55 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony H55

 A500 H55 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Sony A500

 H55 A500 
LaunchedJune 2010August 2009More recent by 9 months

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony H55

 A500 H55 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Sony A500 vs Sony H55 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and size. The Sony A500 provides outer dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony H55 has specifications of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Examine the Sony A500 versus Sony H55 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the A500 and the H55.

Sony A500 vs Sony H55 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A500 and H55 is 63 and 92 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony H55 top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony H55 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements just by researching specs. The visual here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the A500 and H55.

All in all, each of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A500 with its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony H55 will provide you with greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older A500 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A500 vs Sony H55 sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony H55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A500
Portrait photography with Sony H55
63
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
28
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography advice
Sony H55 Street photography advice
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography features
Sony H55 Sports photography features
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (520 CIPA)
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography highlights
Sony H55 Travel photography highlights
43
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery (520 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
67
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A500
Landscape photography with Sony H55
60
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (520 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
42
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A500 Vlogging information
Sony H55 Vlogging information
9
no video
28
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone support
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Sony A500 vs Sony H55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony H55
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-08-27 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4272 x 2848 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 630 gr (1.39 pounds) 200 gr (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 103 x 58 x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 64 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 772 not tested
Other
Battery life 520 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $638 $235