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Sony A550 vs Sony A850

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Sony A550 vs Sony A850 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
  • Released December 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A100
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced April 2010
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Sony A550 vs Sony A850 Overview

Below is a comprehensive assessment of the Sony A550 and Sony A850, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Advanced DSLR and they are both created by Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and A850 (25MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and A850 (Full frame) offer different sensor size.

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The A550 was announced 4 months prior to the A850 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the A550 matches up against the A850 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony A850

 A550 A850 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Sony A550

 A850 A550 

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony A850

 A550 A850 
IntroducedDecember 2009April 2010Similar generation
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Screen resolution922k922kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Sony A550 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony A550 has outer measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) while the Sony A850 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A550 and Sony A850 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the A550 and the A850.

Sony A550 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A550 and A850 is 63 and 54 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to imagine the difference between sensor measurements simply by going over technical specs. The graphic underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the A550 and A850.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A550 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A850 will offer you more detail with its extra 11MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively.

Sony A550 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A550
Portrait photography with Sony A850
72
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
72
focusing manually
MP count excellent (25 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography features
Sony A850 Street photography features
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A850 as a Sports photography camera
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
terrible battery life (480 CIPA)
71
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count excellent (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography info
Sony A850 Travel photography info
52
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
terrible battery life (480 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
55
environment proofing
MP count excellent (25 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography information
Sony A850 Landscape photography information
66
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
terrible battery life (480 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count excellent (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
two card slots
doesn't have liveview
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging highlights
Sony A850 Vlogging highlights
9
can't shoot video
9
lack of video recording
Photography Glossary

Sony A550 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony A850
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Type Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2009-12-09 2010-04-15
Physical type Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 6048 x 4032
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 143 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 922k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 632 grams (1.39 lb) 895 grams (1.97 lb)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.9 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 12.2
DXO Low light rating 807 1415
Other
Battery life 480 photos 880 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots One Dual
Launch pricing $749 $0