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Sony A550 vs Sony H55

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony A550 vs Sony H55 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
  • Succeeded the Sony A100
Sony H55
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 103 x 58 x 29mm
  • Introduced June 2010
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Sony A550 vs Sony H55 Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Sony A550 and Sony H55, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the H55 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the A550 (APS-C) and H55 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizes.

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The A550 was introduced 6 months before the H55 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony H55 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short introduction of how the A550 matches up vs the H55 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony H55

 A550 H55 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Sony A550

 H55 A550 

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony H55

 A550 H55 
IntroducedDecember 2009June 2010Same generation
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Sony A550 vs Sony H55 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A550 enjoys physical measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony H55 has proportions of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Examine the Sony A550 and Sony H55 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the A550 vs the H55.

Sony A550 vs Sony H55 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A550 and H55 is 63 and 92 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony H55 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony H55 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes merely by checking out specifications. The image here will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A550 and H55.

To sum up, both of the cameras offer the same exact megapixel count but different sensor sizes. The A550 has got the larger sensor which will make getting bokeh less difficult.

Sony A550 vs Sony H55 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony H55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography factors
Sony H55 Portrait photography factors
72
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW files
28
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A550
Street photography with Sony H55
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A550
Sports photography with Sony H55
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery power (480 per charge)
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
Sony H55 as a Travel photography camera
52
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
low battery power (480 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
67
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography factors
Sony H55 Landscape photography factors
66
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
low battery power (480 shots)
missing Timelapse function
42
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging advice
Sony H55 Vlogging advice
9
can't shoot video
28
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Sony A550 vs Sony H55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony H55
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-12-09 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
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 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 922k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632 gr (1.39 pounds) 200 gr (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 103 x 58 x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 807 not tested
Other
Battery life 480 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $749 $235