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Sony A550 vs Sony QX1

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Alpha QX1 front
Portability
90
Imaging
63
Features
48
Overall
57

Sony A550 vs Sony QX1 Key Specs

Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched December 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A100
Sony QX1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 216g - 74 x 70 x 53mm
  • Revealed September 2014
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Sony A550 vs Sony QX1 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Sony A550 and Sony QX1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Lens-style and both of them are offered by Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and QX1 (20MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The A550 was launched 5 years earlier than the QX1 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony QX1 being a Lens-style camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the A550 grades against the QX1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony QX1

 A550 QX1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution922k0kClearer screen (+922k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX1 over the Sony A550

 QX1 A550 
RevealedSeptember 2014December 2009More recent by 57 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony QX1

 A550 QX1 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Sony A550 vs Sony QX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A550 has exterior measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony QX1 has proportions of 74mm x 70mm x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1") and a weight of 216 grams (0.48 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A550 and Sony QX1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the A550 versus the QX1.

Sony A550 vs Sony QX1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A550 and QX1 is 63 and 90 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony QX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony QX1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to visualise the difference in sensor measurements simply by viewing specs. The photograph underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the A550 and QX1.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Sony QX1 to result in greater detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older A550 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A550 vs Sony QX1 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony QX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony QX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A550
Portrait photography with Sony QX1
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
66
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography highlights
Sony QX1 Street photography highlights
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
69
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
offers touch to focus
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than others in class (216g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography advice
Sony QX1 Sports photography advice
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery (480 per charge)
56
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery (440 CIPA)
max frames per second low (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A550
Travel photography with Sony QX1
52
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery (480 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
better than average battery (440 CIPA)
offers touch to focus
good megapixels (20MP)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (216 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography factors
Sony QX1 Landscape photography factors
66
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
not so great battery (480 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
64
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (440 CIPA)
tiny screen (")
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging highlights
Sony QX1 Vlogging highlights
9
no video shooting
32
touch screen
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no mic support
heavier than others in class (216 grams)
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Sony A550 vs Sony QX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony QX1
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Alpha QX1
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Alpha QX1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Lens-style
Launched 2009-12-09 2014-09-03
Physical type Compact SLR Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 12800 16000
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.6
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" -
Resolution of display 922 thousand dots 0 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Off, auto, fill, slow sync, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 gr (1.39 lb) 216 gr (0.48 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 74 x 70 x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 not tested
DXO Low light rating 807 not tested
Other
Battery life 480 photographs 440 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $749 $500