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Sony A550 vs Sony HX9V

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
46
Overall
41

Sony A550 vs Sony HX9V 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
  • Announced December 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A100
Sony HX9V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 245g - 105 x 59 x 34mm
  • Released July 2011
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Sony A550 vs Sony HX9V Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Sony A550 vs Sony HX9V, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both built by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the HX9V (16MP) is very comparable but the A550 (APS-C) and HX9V (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The A550 was revealed 19 months prior to the HX9V making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX9V being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the A550 scores versus the HX9V for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony HX9V

 A550 HX9V 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k921kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX9V over the Sony A550

 HX9V A550 
ReleasedJuly 2011December 2009More modern by 19 months

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony HX9V

 A550 HX9V 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Sony A550 vs Sony HX9V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Sony A550 enjoys exterior 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 HX9V has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check out the Sony A550 vs Sony HX9V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the A550 versus the HX9V.

Sony A550 vs Sony HX9V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the A550 and HX9V is 63 and 91 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony HX9V top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony HX9V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes simply by checking out technical specs. The picture below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the A550 and HX9V.

As you have seen, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A550 with its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony HX9V will provide greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A550 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A550 vs Sony HX9V sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony HX9V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony HX9V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography info
Sony HX9V Portrait photography info
72
has manual focus
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
39
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography information
Sony HX9V Street photography information
74
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (245g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography info
Sony HX9V Sports photography info
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery life (480 shots)
44
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX9V as a Travel photography camera
52
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
low battery life (480 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competitors (245g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX9V Landscape photography highlights
66
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
low battery life (480 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
49
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging factors
Sony HX9V Vlogging factors
9
can't shoot video
33
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (245g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have microphone socket
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Sony A550 vs Sony HX9V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony HX9V
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-12-09 2011-07-19
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Total lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 922k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632 gr (1.39 pounds) 245 gr (0.54 pounds)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 105 x 59 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $749 $328