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Sony A550 vs Sony WX1

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
18
Overall
27

Sony A550 vs Sony WX1 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
  • Replaced the Sony A100
Sony WX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 91 x 52 x 20mm
  • Released August 2009
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Sony A550 vs Sony WX1 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Sony A550 vs Sony WX1, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact and they are both manufactured by Sony. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and WX1 (10MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and WX1 (1/2.4") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The A550 was announced 5 months after the WX1 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony WX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the A550 grades against the WX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony WX1

 A550 WX1 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony WX1 over the Sony A550

 WX1 A550 

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony WX1

 A550 WX1 
ReleasedDecember 2009August 2009Same generation
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Sony A550 vs Sony WX1 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony A550 comes with outside 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 WX1 has proportions of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") along with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Compare the Sony A550 vs Sony WX1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the A550 against the WX1.

Sony A550 vs Sony WX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A550 and WX1 is 63 and 96 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony WX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony WX1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes purely by researching a spec sheet. The pic underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A550 and WX1.

Clearly, both cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A550 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony A550 will render extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively.

Sony A550 vs Sony WX1 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony WX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony WX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography highlights
Sony WX1 Portrait photography highlights
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
19
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography details
Sony WX1 Street photography details
74
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
heavier than competition in class (149g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography information
Sony WX1 Sports photography information
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
bad battery power (480 CIPA)
26
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography information
Sony WX1 Travel photography information
52
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (480 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
56
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (149g)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography highlights
Sony WX1 Landscape photography highlights
66
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
bad battery power (480 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
31
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging details
Sony WX1 Vlogging details
9
no video shooting
28
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than competition in class (149 grams)
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Sony A550 vs Sony WX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony WX1
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2009-12-09 2009-08-06
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.4-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 922 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
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)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632 gr (1.39 lb) 149 gr (0.33 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 91 x 52 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8")
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 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FM500H -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $749 $149