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Sony A550 vs Sony W530

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30

Sony A550 vs Sony W530 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
  • Launched December 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A100
Sony W530
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 113g - 93 x 53 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2011
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Sony A550 vs Sony W530 Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Sony A550 versus Sony W530, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact and both of them are designed by Sony. The image resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the W530 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the A550 (APS-C) and W530 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The A550 was released 13 months before the W530 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W530 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the A550 grades versus the W530 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony W530

 A550 W530 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W530 over the Sony A550

 W530 A550 
IntroducedJanuary 2011December 2009More recent by 13 months

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony W530

 A550 W530 
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Sony A550 vs Sony W530 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. 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 W530 has dimensions of 93mm x 53mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 113 grams (0.25 lbs).

Check the Sony A550 versus Sony W530 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the A550 versus the W530.

Sony A550 vs Sony W530 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A550 and W530 is 63 and 96 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony W530 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony W530 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to see the gap between sensor measurements only by checking a spec sheet. The visual here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A550 and W530.

Clearly, both cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor measurements. The A550 contains the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier. The older A550 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A550 vs Sony W530 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony W530 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony W530 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W530 as a Portrait photography camera
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
28
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography information
Sony W530 Street photography information
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
48
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography advice
Sony W530 Sports photography advice
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery (480 shots)
26
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A550
Travel photography with Sony W530
52
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (480 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
65
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography features
Sony W530 Landscape photography features
66
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
not so great battery (480 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
33
reasonably wide (26mm)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging details
Sony W530 Vlogging details
9
no video recording
26
reasonably wide (26mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
no mic support
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Sony A550 vs Sony W530 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony W530
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530
Category Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Launched 2009-12-09 2011-01-06
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz 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 surface area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 922 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 640x480
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 632 gr (1.39 lbs) 113 gr (0.25 lbs)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 93 x 53 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" 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 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $749 $269