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Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 VI

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI front
Portability
88
Imaging
54
Features
75
Overall
62

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 VI 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
  • Revealed December 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A100
Sony RX100 VI
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 301g - 102 x 58 x 43mm
  • Revealed June 2018
  • Superseded the Sony RX100 V
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 VII
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Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 VI Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Sony A550 and Sony RX100 VI, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both are designed by Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and RX100 VI (20MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and RX100 VI (1") offer totally different sensor size.

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The A550 was released 9 years earlier than the RX100 VI and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX100 VI being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief summation of how the A550 scores versus the RX100 VI in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony RX100 VI

 A550 RX100 VI 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VI over the Sony A550

 RX100 VI A550 
RevealedJune 2018December 2009Fresher by 103 months
Display resolution1229k922kSharper display (+307k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony RX100 VI

 A550 RX100 VI 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 VI Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony A550 enjoys external dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) while the Sony RX100 VI has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") and a weight of 301 grams (0.66 lbs).

See the Sony A550 and Sony RX100 VI in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the A550 and the RX100 VI.

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 VI size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A550 and RX100 VI is 63 and 88 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 VI top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 VI Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to see the difference between sensor sizing just by reading specs. The photograph below may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the A550 and RX100 VI.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A550 featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony RX100 VI will offer extra detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The older A550 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 VI sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 VI Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX100 VI Portrait photography highlights
72
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
66
has manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A550
Street photography with Sony RX100 VI
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
features touch to focus
lighter than average in class (301g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography factors
Sony RX100 VI Sports photography factors
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
low battery power (480 shots)
70
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (24.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports tracking autofocus
supports phase detect AF
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 VI as a Travel photography camera
52
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery power (480 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
77
lighter than average in class (301 grams)
has bluetooth
features touch to focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography information
Sony RX100 VI Landscape photography information
66
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
low battery power (480 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
65
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
not so great battery power (240 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging factors
Sony RX100 VI Vlogging factors
9
lack of video recording
77
decently wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than average in class (301 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
lack of external microphone support
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Sony A550 vs Sony RX100 VI Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony RX100 VI
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI
Category Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-12-09 2018-06-05
Physical type Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
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 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
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW images
Min boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 315
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-200mm (8.3x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-4.5
Macro focus distance - 8cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 922 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per sec 24.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 5.90 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/2000 secs
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 file 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) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632 gr (1.39 pounds) 301 gr (0.66 pounds)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 102 x 58 x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7")
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 photographs 240 photographs
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 1 1
Retail cost $749 $1,198