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Sony A550 vs Sony TX30

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
42
Features
43
Overall
42

Sony A550 vs Sony TX30 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
  • Introduced December 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A100
Sony TX30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.5-4.8) lens
  • 141g - 96 x 59 x 15mm
  • Announced July 2013
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Sony A550 vs Sony TX30 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Sony A550 vs Sony TX30, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both created by Sony. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and TX30 (18MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and TX30 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The A550 was announced 4 years before the TX30 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony TX30 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the A550 matches up against the TX30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony TX30

 A550 TX30 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony TX30 over the Sony A550

 TX30 A550 
AnnouncedJuly 2013December 2009More modern by 44 months
Screen dimensions3.3"3"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k922kClearer screen (+307k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony TX30

 A550 TX30 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Sony A550 vs Sony TX30 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Sony A550 provides outside 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) and the Sony TX30 has sizing of 96mm x 59mm x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6") accompanied by a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Compare the Sony A550 vs Sony TX30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the A550 versus the TX30.

Sony A550 vs Sony TX30 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A550 and TX30 is 63 and 96 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony TX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony TX30 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizes simply by going through specifications. The image here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A550 and TX30.

Plainly, each of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A550 having a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Sony TX30 will produce greater detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged A550 will be behind in sensor tech.

Sony A550 vs Sony TX30 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony TX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony TX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony TX30 as a Portrait photography camera
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
38
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography information
Sony TX30 Street photography information
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography info
Sony TX30 Sports photography info
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
bad battery pack (480 CIPA)
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
weather proof
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography information
Sony TX30 Travel photography information
52
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (480 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
69
weather proof
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography features
Sony TX30 Landscape photography features
66
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
bad battery pack (480 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
51
focusing manually
pretty wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3.3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A550
Vlogging with Sony TX30
9
can't shoot video
34
pretty wide (26mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone port
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Sony A550 vs Sony TX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony TX30
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30
Category Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2009-12-09 2013-07-26
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-4.8
Amount of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3.3 inches
Screen resolution 922k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632g (1.39 lbs) 141g (0.31 lbs)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 96 x 59 x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6")
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 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FM500H -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo -
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $749 $230