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Sony A550 vs Sony W730

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
33
Overall
37

Sony A550 vs Sony W730 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
  • Launched December 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A100
Sony W730
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-224mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2013
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Sony A550 vs Sony W730 Overview

Below is a in-depth analysis of the Sony A550 and Sony W730, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Sony. The resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the W730 (16MP) is very close but the A550 (APS-C) and W730 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The A550 was brought out 4 years prior to the W730 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W730 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the A550 matches up vs the W730 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony W730

 A550 W730 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W730 over the Sony A550

 W730 A550 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013December 2009More recent by 37 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony W730

 A550 W730 
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Sony A550 vs Sony W730 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Sony A550 offers outer dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony W730 has specifications of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") and a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Sony A550 and Sony W730 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the A550 versus the W730.

Sony A550 vs Sony W730 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the A550 and W730 is 63 and 96 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony W730 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony W730 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to envision the difference in sensor measurements just by looking through specs. The photograph underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the A550 and W730.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A550 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony W730 will provide you with greater detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos far more aggressively. The older A550 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Sony A550 vs Sony W730 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony W730 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony W730 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography information
Sony W730 Portrait photography information
72
focusing manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
35
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A550
Street photography with Sony W730
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus by touch
lighter than others (122 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography advice
Sony W730 Sports photography advice
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
bad battery pack (480 per charge)
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography info
Sony W730 Travel photography info
52
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (480 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
71
lighter than others (122 grams)
includes focus by touch
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W730 as a Landscape photography camera
66
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
bad battery pack (480 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
39
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A550
Vlogging with Sony W730
9
can't record video
34
fairly wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than others (122 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
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Sony A550 vs Sony W730 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony W730
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-12-09 2013-01-08
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3056 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-224mm (9.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.3
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 922k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632 gr (1.39 lbs) 122 gr (0.27 lbs)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 93 x 52 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 240 photos
Battery format 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 shooting
Type of storage 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 cost $749 $138