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Sony A550 vs Sony W650

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sony A550 vs Sony W650 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
  • Released December 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A100
Sony W650
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 124g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Sony A550 vs Sony W650 Overview

The following is a thorough overview of the Sony A550 versus Sony W650, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are produced by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the W650 (16MP) is relatively close but the A550 (APS-C) and W650 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A550 was manufactured 3 years before the W650 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W650 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple overview of how the A550 matches up versus the W650 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony W650

 A550 W650 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W650 over the Sony A550

 W650 A550 
RevealedJanuary 2012December 2009Newer by 25 months

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony W650

 A550 W650 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Sony A550 vs Sony W650 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Sony A550 has outside measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony W650 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 124 grams (0.27 lbs).

See the Sony A550 versus Sony W650 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the A550 compared to the W650.

Sony A550 vs Sony W650 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the A550 and W650 is 63 and 96 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony W650 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony W650 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by viewing technical specs. The picture here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A550 and W650.

As you can tell, each of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The A550 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony W650 will render extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A550 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Sony A550 vs Sony W650 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony W650 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony W650 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography advice
Sony W650 Portrait photography advice
72
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focus
supports RAW formats
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography information
Sony W650 Street photography information
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (124g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W650 as a Sports photography camera
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery pack (480 per charge)
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A550
Travel photography with Sony W650
52
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery pack (480 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
69
lighter than average (124 grams)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography info
Sony W650 Landscape photography info
66
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low battery pack (480 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
43
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
no manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W650 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
33
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
lighter than average (124g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone socket
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Sony A550 vs Sony W650 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony W650
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-12-09 2012-01-10
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 922 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - Clear Photo TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.70 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 grams (1.39 pounds) 124 grams (0.27 pounds)
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 220 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/micro SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $749 $140