Sony A550 vs Sony HX1

In this article, we will be evaluating the Sony A550 and Sony HX1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Sony. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and HX1 (1/2.4") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The A550 was unveiled 8 months later than the HX1 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the A550 matches up against the HX1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1. The full galleries are viewable at Sony A550 Gallery & Sony HX1 Gallery.

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you should think about its weight and size. The Sony A550 features outer 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 HX1 has specifications of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") having a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Compare the Sony A550 and Sony HX1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the A550 against the HX1.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the A550 and HX1 is 63 and 67 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is hard to see the gap in sensor measurements merely by looking through specifications. The graphic below will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the A550 and HX1.

Plainly, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A550 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony A550 will result in greater detail having an extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The younger A550 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.