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Sony A550 vs Sony S930

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Sony A550 vs Sony S930 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
  • Launched December 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A100
Sony S930
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.4" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 320 x 240 video
  • 38-108mm (F2.9-5.4) lens
  • 167g - 90 x 61 x 26mm
  • Released January 2009
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Sony A550 vs Sony S930 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Sony A550 versus Sony S930, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both built by Sony. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and S930 (10MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and S930 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizing.

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The A550 was revealed 12 months after the S930 and they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony S930 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the A550 matches up against the S930 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony S930

 A550 S930 
ReleasedDecember 2009January 2009Newer by 12 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.4"Larger display (+0.6")
Display resolution922k112kCrisper display (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S930 over the Sony A550

 S930 A550 

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony S930

 A550 S930 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Sony A550 vs Sony S930 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera often, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Sony A550 provides exterior measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony S930 has proportions of 90mm x 61mm x 26mm (3.5" x 2.4" x 1.0") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Sony A550 versus Sony S930 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the A550 compared to the S930.

Sony A550 vs Sony S930 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A550 and S930 is 63 and 94 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony S930 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony S930 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing technical specs. The image below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the A550 and S930.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The A550 having a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony A550 will offer you more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more modern A550 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A550 vs Sony S930 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony S930 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony S930 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography advice
Sony S930 Portrait photography advice
72
has manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
26
has manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
low resolution (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography information
Sony S930 Street photography information
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography information
Sony S930 Sports photography information
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
low battery (480 per charge)
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low resolution (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography info
Sony S930 Travel photography info
52
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
low battery (480 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
50
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low resolution (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow max aperture (f2.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography factors
Sony S930 Landscape photography factors
66
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
low battery (480 per charge)
no Timelapse function
31
has manual focus
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow max aperture (f2.9)
screen is small (2.4 inches)
manual exposure not available
low resolution (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging advice
Sony S930 Vlogging advice
9
no video shooting
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow max aperture (f2.9)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (320 x 240 pixels)
does not have mic socket
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Sony A550 vs Sony S930 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony S930
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-12-09 2009-01-08
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 38-108mm (2.8x)
Max aperture - f/2.9-5.4
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.4 inches
Resolution of display 922 thousand dots 112 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 1/8s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.00 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, Forced Flash, Slow Syncro, No Flash
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 320x240
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632 gr (1.39 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 90 x 61 x 26mm (3.5" x 2.4" x 1.0")
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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FM500H 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / PRo-HG Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $749 $219