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Sony A550 vs Sony TX1

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
21
Overall
28

Sony A550 vs Sony TX1 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
  • Announced December 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A100
Sony TX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 58 x 17mm
  • Released August 2009
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Sony A550 vs Sony TX1 Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Sony A550 versus Sony TX1, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact and both of them are built by Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and TX1 (10MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and TX1 (1/2.4") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The A550 was brought out 5 months after the TX1 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony TX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving through a full comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the A550 scores against the TX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony TX1

 A550 TX1 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony TX1 over the Sony A550

 TX1 A550 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony TX1

 A550 TX1 
ReleasedDecember 2009August 2009Similar age
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Sony A550 vs Sony TX1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony A550 features physical 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 TX1 has measurements of 94mm x 58mm x 17mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A550 versus Sony TX1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the A550 vs the TX1.

Sony A550 vs Sony TX1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the A550 and TX1 is 63 and 96 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony TX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony TX1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reviewing specifications. The pic below will give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A550 and TX1.

Plainly, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A550 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Sony A550 will offer more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively.

Sony A550 vs Sony TX1 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony TX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony TX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography highlights
Sony TX1 Portrait photography highlights
72
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW formats
19
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography highlights
Sony TX1 Street photography highlights
74
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A550
Sports photography with Sony TX1
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (480 shots)
24
image stabilization (Optical)
low max shutter speed (1/1,250 seconds)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A550
Travel photography with Sony TX1
52
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (480 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography info
Sony TX1 Landscape photography info
66
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
not so great battery pack (480 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
31
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.4")
no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging factors
Sony TX1 Vlogging factors
9
can't shoot video
28
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic socket
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Sony A550 vs Sony TX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony TX1
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1
Class Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2009-12-09 2009-08-06
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias 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
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-4.6
Macro focusing distance - 8cm
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 922k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1250 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 632g (1.39 lbs) 142g (0.31 lbs)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 94 x 58 x 17mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 not tested
DXO Low light rating 807 not tested
Other
Battery life 480 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FM500H -
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, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch cost $749 $350