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Sony A550 vs Sony W550

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony A550 vs Sony W550 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
  • Earlier Model is Sony A100
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Released July 2011
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Sony A550 vs Sony W550 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Sony A550 versus Sony W550, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact and both of them are created by Sony. The resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the W550 (14MP) is fairly similar but the A550 (APS-C) and W550 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The A550 was introduced 19 months earlier than the W550 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the A550 scores vs the W550 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony W550

 A550 W550 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony A550

 W550 A550 
ReleasedJuly 2011December 2009Newer by 19 months

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony W550

 A550 W550 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Sony A550 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony A550 features outer measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony W550 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Look at the Sony A550 versus Sony W550 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the A550 against the W550.

Sony A550 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A550 and W550 is 63 and 96 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading specs. The picture underneath may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the A550 and W550.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have got the exact same megapixels but not the same sensor dimensions. The A550 provides the larger sensor which should make obtaining bokeh simpler. The more aged A550 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A550 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography features
Sony W550 Portrait photography features
72
focusing manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
28
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography information
Sony W550 Street photography information
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography advice
Sony W550 Sports photography advice
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
terrible battery power (480 per charge)
35
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A550
Travel photography with Sony W550
52
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (480 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
65
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A550
Landscape photography with Sony W550
66
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
terrible battery power (480 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
42
pretty wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging information
Sony W550 Vlogging information
9
no video
29
pretty wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone jack
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Sony A550 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony W550
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Type Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2009-12-09 2011-07-24
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 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 format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
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
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 922k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
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)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone 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 632 gr (1.39 lbs) 110 gr (0.24 lbs)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 94 x 56 x 19mm (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 -
Battery format 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 shooting
Storage media SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 -
Launch cost $749 $119