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Sony A550 vs Sony WX30

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39

Sony A550 vs Sony WX30 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
  • Succeeded the Sony A100
Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Launched July 2011
Photography Glossary

Sony A550 vs Sony WX30 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Sony A550 vs Sony WX30, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are created by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the WX30 (16MP) is very similar but the A550 (APS-C) and WX30 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The A550 was unveiled 19 months before the WX30 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony WX30 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the A550 matches up versus the WX30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony WX30

 A550 WX30 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Sony A550

 WX30 A550 
LaunchedJuly 2011December 2009More recent by 19 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony WX30

 A550 WX30 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Display resolution922k922kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Sony A550 vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony A550 has outer dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony WX30 has sizing of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A550 vs Sony WX30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the A550 against the WX30.

Sony A550 vs Sony WX30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A550 and WX30 is 63 and 96 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony WX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor measurements merely by reviewing specifications. The visual below may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A550 and WX30.

Plainly, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A550 using its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony WX30 will offer you more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older A550 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A550 vs Sony WX30 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony WX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography features
Sony WX30 Portrait photography features
72
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
30
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography details
Sony WX30 Street photography details
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (117 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography features
Sony WX30 Sports photography features
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
low battery (480 shots)
39
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography advice
Sony WX30 Travel photography advice
52
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery (480 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competitors in class (117g)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
no Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography information
Sony WX30 Landscape photography information
66
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
low battery (480 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
43
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX30 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
35
rather wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (117g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic socket
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Sony A550 vs Sony WX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony WX30
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-12-09 2011-07-25
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 922k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - XtraFine TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.70 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
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632g (1.39 lbs) 117g (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" 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 250 photos
Battery type Battery Pack 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 recording
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
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $749 $259