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Sony A550 vs Sony A900

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
Portability
54
Imaging
67
Features
62
Overall
65

Sony A550 vs Sony A900 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
  • Launched December 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A100
Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Announced October 2008
  • Newer Model is Sony A99
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Sony A550 vs Sony A900 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Sony A550 vs Sony A900, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Advanced DSLR and both of them are designed by Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and A900 (25MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and A900 (Full frame) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The A550 was released 14 months after the A900 making the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the A550 matches up versus the A900 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony A900

 A550 A900 
AnnouncedDecember 2009October 2008Newer by 14 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Sony A550

 A900 A550 

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony A900

 A550 A900 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution922k922kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Sony A550 vs Sony A900 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony A550 has got physical dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony A900 has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Compare the Sony A550 vs Sony A900 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the A550 vs the A900.

Sony A550 vs Sony A900 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A550 and A900 is 63 and 54 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony A900 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A900 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by looking through technical specs. The pic underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A550 and A900.

As you can tell, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The A550 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A900 will result in more detail as a result of its extra 11MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The more recent A550 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Sony A550 vs Sony A900 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A550
Portrait photography with Sony A900
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
72
you can focus manually
megapixel count great (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography highlights
Sony A900 Street photography highlights
74
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography factors
Sony A900 Sports photography factors
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
low battery power (480 per charge)
71
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count great (25 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A900 as a Travel photography camera
52
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery power (480 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
55
weather sealing
megapixel count great (25MP)
no Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography information
Sony A900 Landscape photography information
66
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
low battery power (480 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count great (25MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
has double storage slots
no liveview
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A900 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
9
can't record video
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Sony A550 vs Sony A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony A900
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Class Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-12-09 2008-10-22
Body design Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 6048 x 4032
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 143 143
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 922k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings 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
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632 gr (1.39 lb) 895 gr (1.97 lb)
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 Overall score 66 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.9 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 12.3
DXO Low light score 807 1431
Other
Battery life 480 photographs 880 photographs
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 feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Storage slots 1 Two
Cost at release $749 $2,736