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Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 V

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V front
Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
80
Overall
63

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 V 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
  • Introduced December 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A100
Sony RX100 V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released October 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100 IV
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 VI
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Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 V Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Sony A550 versus Sony RX100 V, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are offered by Sony. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and RX100 V (20MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and RX100 V (1") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The A550 was introduced 7 years before the RX100 V and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX100 V being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a concise view of how the A550 matches up against the RX100 V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony RX100 V

 A550 RX100 V 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 V over the Sony A550

 RX100 V A550 
ReleasedOctober 2016December 2009More recent by 83 months
Screen resolution1229k922kSharper screen (+307k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony RX100 V

 A550 RX100 V 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 V Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A550 enjoys external dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony RX100 V has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A550 versus Sony RX100 V in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the A550 against the RX100 V.

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 V size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A550 and RX100 V is 63 and 89 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 V top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements simply by going over technical specs. The graphic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A550 and RX100 V.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A550 using its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony RX100 V will deliver extra detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older A550 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 V sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography features
Sony RX100 V Portrait photography features
72
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
66
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/2,000s)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography factors
Sony RX100 V Street photography factors
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors (299g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography details
Sony RX100 V Sports photography details
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
bad battery life (480 per charge)
70
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (24.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports tracking focus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A550
Travel photography with Sony RX100 V
52
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery life (480 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
80
lighter than competitors (299 grams)
good MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography features
Sony RX100 V Landscape photography features
66
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
bad battery life (480 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
70
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 V as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
81
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competitors (299 grams)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony RX100 V
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V
Class Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-12-09 2016-10-06
Physical type Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface 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
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 315
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 922k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 24.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone 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 632 grams (1.39 pounds) 299 grams (0.66 pounds)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 70
DXO Color Depth score 21.9 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 12.4
DXO Low light score 807 586
Other
Battery life 480 pictures 220 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $749 $998