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Sony A550 vs Sony TX5

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
33
Overall
33

Sony A550 vs Sony TX5 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
  • Introduced December 2009
  • Earlier Model is Sony A100
Sony TX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 148g - 94 x 57 x 18mm
  • Introduced February 2010
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Sony A550 vs Sony TX5 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Sony A550 versus Sony TX5, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact and they are both designed by Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and TX5 (10MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and TX5 (1/2.4") provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The A550 was manufactured 2 months earlier than the TX5 and they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony TX5 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the A550 grades versus the TX5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony TX5

 A550 TX5 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony TX5 over the Sony A550

 TX5 A550 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony TX5

 A550 TX5 
IntroducedDecember 2009February 2010Similar age
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Sony A550 vs Sony TX5 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony A550 has got exterior dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony TX5 has dimensions of 94mm x 57mm x 18mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 148 grams (0.33 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A550 versus Sony TX5 in our newest 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 are utilising during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the A550 compared to the TX5.

Sony A550 vs Sony TX5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the A550 and TX5 is 63 and 96 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony TX5 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony TX5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading a spec sheet. The pic below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the A550 and TX5.

As you can see, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A550 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony A550 will deliver greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a bit more aggressively.

Sony A550 vs Sony TX5 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony TX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony TX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography highlights
Sony TX5 Portrait photography highlights
72
focusing manually
good resolution (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
26
has manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography factors
Sony TX5 Street photography factors
74
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
63
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus by touch
environment sealing
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
no RAW format
heavier than average (148 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography info
Sony TX5 Sports photography info
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
terrible battery life (480 CIPA)
33
image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography info
Sony TX5 Travel photography info
52
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (480 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly display
62
environment sealing
comes with focus by touch
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than average (148g)
low MP (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony TX5 as a Landscape photography camera
66
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
terrible battery life (480 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
43
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
Sony TX5 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
30
fairly wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than average (148g)
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Sony A550 vs Sony TX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony TX5
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5
Class Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2009-12-09 2010-02-18
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
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 area 365.0mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 922k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 2.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 632g (1.39 lbs) 148g (0.33 lbs)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 94 x 57 x 18mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/ Pro HG-Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $749 $239