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Sony A550 vs Sony TX9

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37

Sony A550 vs Sony TX9 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
  • Replaced the Sony A100
Sony TX9
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 149g - 98 x 60 x 18mm
  • Announced July 2010
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Sony A550 vs Sony TX9 Overview

Following is a thorough assessment of the Sony A550 and Sony TX9, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both produced by Sony. The image resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the TX9 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the A550 (APS-C) and TX9 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The A550 was brought out 7 months prior to the TX9 so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony TX9 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the A550 scores versus the TX9 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony TX9

 A550 TX9 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony TX9 over the Sony A550

 TX9 A550 
AnnouncedJuly 2010December 2009More modern by 7 months
Screen sizing3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony TX9

 A550 TX9 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen resolution922k922kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Sony A550 vs Sony TX9 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Sony A550 offers physical measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) while the Sony TX9 has proportions of 98mm x 60mm x 18mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.7") with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A550 and Sony TX9 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the A550 compared to the TX9.

Sony A550 vs Sony TX9 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A550 and TX9 is 63 and 95 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony TX9 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony TX9 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing technical specs. The picture here might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A550 and TX9.

As you can tell, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A550 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony A550 will provide extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged A550 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A550 vs Sony TX9 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony TX9 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony TX9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography advice
Sony TX9 Portrait photography advice
72
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
27
you can focus manually
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A550
Street photography with Sony TX9
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than others in class (149g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A550
Sports photography with Sony TX9
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
bad battery (480 per charge)
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A550
Travel photography with Sony TX9
52
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery (480 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
features focus by touch
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (149g)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony TX9 as a Landscape photography camera
66
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
bad battery (480 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
41
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
big screen (3.5 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging features
Sony TX9 Vlogging features
9
can't shoot video
32
rather wide (25mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic support
heavier than others in class (149 grams)
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Sony A550 vs Sony TX9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony TX9
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9
Type Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2009-12-09 2010-07-08
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-4.6
Macro focus range - 1cm
Available lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3.5"
Screen resolution 922k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632 gr (1.39 lbs) 149 gr (0.33 lbs)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 98 x 60 x 18mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.7")
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 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $749 $799