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Sony A550 vs Sony RX10 II

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II front
Portability
58
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Sony A550 vs Sony RX10 II 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
  • Revealed December 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A100
Sony RX10 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8) lens
  • 813g - 129 x 88 x 102mm
  • Introduced June 2015
  • Previous Model is Sony RX10
  • Later Model is Sony RX10 III
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Sony A550 vs Sony RX10 II Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Sony A550 versus Sony RX10 II, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom and both of them are manufactured by Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and RX10 II (20MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and RX10 II (1") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The A550 was released 6 years before the RX10 II which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX10 II being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the A550 scores vs the RX10 II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony RX10 II

 A550 RX10 II 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 II over the Sony A550

 RX10 II A550 
IntroducedJune 2015December 2009Newer by 66 months
Screen resolution1229k922kCrisper screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony RX10 II

 A550 RX10 II 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Sony A550 vs Sony RX10 II Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Sony A550 enjoys outer 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 RX10 II has specifications of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") and a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

See the Sony A550 versus Sony RX10 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the A550 vs the RX10 II.

Sony A550 vs Sony RX10 II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A550 and RX10 II is 63 and 58 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony RX10 II top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony RX10 II Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by seeing specifications. The picture below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the A550 and RX10 II.

Plainly, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The A550 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Sony RX10 II will produce greater detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A550 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony A550 vs Sony RX10 II sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony RX10 II Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony RX10 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX10 II as a Portrait photography camera
72
focusing manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
71
focusing manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography features
Sony RX10 II Street photography features
74
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
72
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A550
Sports photography with Sony RX10 II
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low battery (480 shots)
68
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography features
Sony RX10 II Travel photography features
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
low battery (480 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
56
weather sealing
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX10 II as a Landscape photography camera
66
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
low battery (480 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
62
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A550
Vlogging with Sony RX10 II
9
no video
31
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external microphone support
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Sony A550 vs Sony RX10 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony RX10 II
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
Class Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-12-09 2015-06-10
Physical type Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3056 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-200mm (8.3x)
Max aperture - f/2.8
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 922k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per sec 14.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 10.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632g (1.39 lb) 813g (1.79 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 129 x 88 x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 66 70
DXO Color Depth score 21.9 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 12.6
DXO Low light score 807 531
Other
Battery life 480 pictures 400 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $749 $998