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Sony A550 vs Sony RX1R

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
58
Overall
65

Sony A550 vs Sony RX1R 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
  • Superseded the Sony A100
Sony RX1R
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Refreshed by Sony RX1R II
Photography Glossary

Sony A550 vs Sony RX1R Overview

Following is a extended assessment of the Sony A550 and Sony RX1R, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both built by Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and RX1R (24MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and RX1R (Full frame) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The A550 was announced 4 years earlier than the RX1R which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX1R being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the A550 grades against the RX1R in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony RX1R

 A550 RX1R 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony RX1R over the Sony A550

 RX1R A550 
AnnouncedJune 2013December 2009More modern by 43 months
Display resolution1229k922kClearer display (+307k dot)

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony RX1R

 A550 RX1R 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Sony A550 vs Sony RX1R Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Sony A550 offers outside dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony RX1R has proportions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

See the Sony A550 and Sony RX1R in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the A550 compared to the RX1R.

Sony A550 vs Sony RX1R size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the A550 and RX1R is 63 and 79 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony RX1R top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony RX1R Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes only by reading specs. The image underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the A550 and RX1R.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A550 with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Sony RX1R will offer you more detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged A550 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Sony A550 vs Sony RX1R sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony RX1R Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony RX1R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX1R as a Portrait photography camera
72
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect focus
exports RAW formats
82
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/4,000 seconds)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A550
Street photography with Sony RX1R
74
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
66
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW files
good high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX1R as a Sports photography camera
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
bad battery power (480 shots)
53
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features tracking focus
fixed focal length (35mm)
slow fps (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (270 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX1R as a Travel photography camera
52
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery power (480 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
62
good resolution (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery (270 shots)
more heavy than competitors in class (482g)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A550
Landscape photography with Sony RX1R
66
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
bad battery power (480 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
66
you can focus manually
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
does not have anti-alias filter
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (270 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging features
Sony RX1R Vlogging features
9
no video shooting
34
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone jack
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (482g)
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Sony A550 vs Sony RX1R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony RX1R
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
Class Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-12-09 2013-06-26
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 922 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s 1/4000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632g (1.39 lb) 482g (1.06 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 91
DXO Color Depth score 21.9 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 13.6
DXO Low light score 807 2537
Other
Battery life 480 shots 270 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $749 $2,798