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Sony A550 vs Sony A560

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 front
Portability
64
Imaging
54
Features
78
Overall
63

Sony A550 vs Sony A560 Key Specs

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
  • Old Model is Sony A100
Sony A560
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released August 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A500
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Sony A550 vs Sony A560 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Sony A550 and Sony A560, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras and they are both built by Sony. The resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the A560 (14MP) is fairly close and both cameras have the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The A550 was manufactured 8 months earlier than the A560 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the A550 matches up versus the A560 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony A560

 A550 A560 

Reasons to pick Sony A560 over the Sony A550

 A560 A550 
ReleasedAugust 2010December 2009Newer by 8 months

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony A560

 A550 A560 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Display resolution922k922kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Sony A550 vs Sony A560 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A550 has got outside measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) while the Sony A560 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A550 and Sony A560 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the A550 vs the A560.

Sony A550 vs Sony A560 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the A550 and A560 is 63 and 64 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony A560 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A560 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions purely by researching technical specs. The pic here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A550 and A560.

As you can tell, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size and the exact same megapixels therefore you should expect comparable quality of files however you will need to take the production date of the cameras into account. The more aged A550 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Sony A550 vs Sony A560 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A560 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony A560 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography details
Sony A560 Portrait photography details
72
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
72
you can focus manually
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography features
Sony A560 Street photography features
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
75
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A560 as a Sports photography camera
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
bad battery power (480 per charge)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery power (1,050 per charge)
supports phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography features
Sony A560 Travel photography features
52
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery power (480 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
60
better than average battery power (1,050 per charge)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A560 as a Landscape photography camera
66
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
bad battery power (480 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (1,050 shots)
has double storage slots
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A550
Vlogging with Sony A560
9
no video
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone port
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Sony A550 vs Sony A560 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony A560
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Alpha DSLR-A560
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Alpha DSLR-A560
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2009-12-09 2010-08-24
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 143 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 922k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 632 gr (1.39 lb) 599 gr (1.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 70
DXO Color Depth score 21.9 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 12.3
DXO Low light score 807 817
Other
Battery life 480 photos 1050 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Two
Pricing at launch $749 $650