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Sony A550 vs Sony WX5

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
29
Overall
32

Sony A550 vs Sony WX5 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
  • Revealed December 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A100
Sony WX5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
  • Revealed July 2010
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Sony A550 vs Sony WX5 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Sony A550 versus Sony WX5, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Sony. The resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the WX5 (12MP) is relatively close but the A550 (APS-C) and WX5 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The A550 was introduced 7 months before the WX5 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony WX5 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the A550 scores against the WX5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony WX5

 A550 WX5 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution922k461kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony WX5 over the Sony A550

 WX5 A550 
RevealedJuly 2010December 2009More modern by 7 months

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony WX5

 A550 WX5 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Sony A550 vs Sony WX5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony A550 enjoys 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) while the Sony WX5 has dimensions of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") having a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).

Look at the Sony A550 versus Sony WX5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the A550 versus the WX5.

Sony A550 vs Sony WX5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A550 and WX5 is 63 and 95 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony WX5 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony WX5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to see the difference in sensor sizes merely by viewing specifications. The image below will offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A550 and WX5.

To sum up, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The A550 with its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Sony A550 will result in more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged A550 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Sony A550 vs Sony WX5 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony WX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony WX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A550
Portrait photography with Sony WX5
72
manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
21
no manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography factors
Sony WX5 Street photography factors
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography info
Sony WX5 Sports photography info
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
low battery (480 shots)
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography info
Sony WX5 Travel photography info
52
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
low battery (480 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
58
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX5 as a Landscape photography camera
66
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
low battery (480 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
37
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (2.8 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
no manual mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX5 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
32
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have mic socket
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Sony A550 vs Sony WX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony WX5
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-12-09 2010-07-08
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.4-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.8 inch
Display resolution 922 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type 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 rate 7.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 5.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - AVCHD
Mic 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 lbs) 146 grams (0.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9")
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 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $749 $250