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Sony A550 vs Sony A6000

Portability
63
Imaging
53
Features
65
Overall
57
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Alpha a6000 front
Portability
85
Imaging
65
Features
78
Overall
70

Sony A550 vs Sony A6000 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 A6000
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 344g - 120 x 67 x 45mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-6
  • Later Model is Sony A6300
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Sony A550 vs Sony A6000 Overview

Here is a in-depth assessment of the Sony A550 vs Sony A6000, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both created by Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and A6000 (24MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The A550 was announced 5 years earlier than the A6000 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A6000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a full comparison, below is a short view of how the A550 grades versus the A6000 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony A6000

 A550 A6000 

Reasons to pick Sony A6000 over the Sony A550

 A6000 A550 
LaunchedApril 2014December 2009Fresher by 53 months

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony A6000

 A550 A6000 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution922k922kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Sony A550 vs Sony A6000 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony A550 enjoys outside dimensions 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 A6000 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 45mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 344 grams (0.76 lbs).

See the Sony A550 vs Sony A6000 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the A550 versus the A6000.

Sony A550 vs Sony A6000 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the A550 and A6000 is 63 and 85 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony A6000 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A6000 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing only by going over a spec sheet. The graphic below will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A550 and A6000.

As you can see, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Sony A6000 to offer more detail with its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots much more aggressively. The older A550 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A550 vs Sony A6000 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A6000 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony A6000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography factors
Sony A6000 Portrait photography factors
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
79
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography details
Sony A6000 Street photography details
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
80
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition (344g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A550
Sports photography with Sony A6000
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery life (480 per charge)
72
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography factors
Sony A6000 Travel photography factors
51
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery life (480 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
77
lighter than competition (344g)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A6000 as a Landscape photography camera
66
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
low battery life (480 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
78
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count decent (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging information
Sony A6000 Vlogging information
9
lack of video recording
33
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (344 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
doesn't have mic socket
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Sony A550 vs Sony A6000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony A6000
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Alpha a6000
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Alpha a6000
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2009-12-09 2014-04-23
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Max boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 179
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony E
Total lenses 143 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 922 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction, hi-speed sync, wireless control
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632g (1.39 lb) 344g (0.76 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 120 x 67 x 45mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 82
DXO Color Depth score 21.9 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 13.1
DXO Low light score 807 1347
Other
Battery life 480 pictures 360 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $749 $548