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Sony A550 vs Sony W560

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony A550 vs Sony W560 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
  • Released December 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A100
Sony W560
(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
  • Announced January 2011
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Sony A550 vs Sony W560 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Sony A550 and Sony W560, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact and both are offered by Sony. The image resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the W560 (14MP) is fairly close but the A550 (APS-C) and W560 (1/2.3") posses different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The A550 was released 13 months earlier than the W560 making them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W560 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the A550 grades against the W560 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony W560

 A550 W560 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W560 over the Sony A550

 W560 A550 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011December 2009Newer by 13 months

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony W560

 A550 W560 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Sony A550 vs Sony W560 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A550 has exterior 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) and the Sony W560 has measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Compare the Sony A550 and Sony W560 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the A550 compared to the W560.

Sony A550 vs Sony W560 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A550 and W560 is 63 and 96 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony W560 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony W560 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions just by looking through technical specs. The pic underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the A550 and W560.

As you have seen, both of these cameras come with the identical megapixel count but different sensor dimensions. The A550 includes the larger sensor which will make getting shallower DOF easier. The more aged A550 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A550 vs Sony W560 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony W560 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony W560 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography features
Sony W560 Portrait photography features
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
28
good MP (14MP)
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography factors
Sony W560 Street photography factors
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A550
Sports photography with Sony W560
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery life (480 per charge)
35
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W560 as a Travel photography camera
52
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery life (480 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly display
65
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography features
Sony W560 Landscape photography features
66
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
bad battery life (480 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
42
fairly wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging info
Sony W560 Vlogging info
9
lack of video recording
29
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic port
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Sony A550 vs Sony W560 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony W560
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560
Class Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Released 2009-12-09 2011-01-06
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 922 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632 grams (1.39 lbs) 110 grams (0.24 lbs)
Physical 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 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 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model 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 Single Single
Retail price $749 $139