Clicky

Sony A550 vs Sony A35

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony SLT-A35 front
Portability
69
Imaging
56
Features
70
Overall
61

Sony A550 vs Sony A35 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
  • Announced December 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A100
Sony A35
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 415g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced September 2011
  • Replaced the Sony A33
  • Updated by Sony A37
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sony A550 vs Sony A35 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Sony A550 versus Sony A35, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras and they are both produced by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the A35 (16MP) is pretty close and they possess the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The A550 was manufactured 21 months before the A35 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the A550 matches up vs the A35 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony A35

 A550 A35 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k921kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A35 over the Sony A550

 A35 A550 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011December 2009More modern by 21 months

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony A35

 A550 A35 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Sony A550 vs Sony A35 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony A550 enjoys external measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony A35 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 415 grams (0.91 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A550 versus Sony A35 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the A550 against the A35.

Sony A550 vs Sony A35 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A550 and A35 is 63 and 69 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony A35 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A35 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizes merely by viewing a spec sheet. The image here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the A550 and A35.

Clearly, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Sony A35 to render extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A550 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A550 vs Sony A35 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A35 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony A35 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A35 as a Portrait photography camera
72
manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
73
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW formats
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography highlights
Sony A35 Street photography highlights
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
71
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (415 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography highlights
Sony A35 Sports photography highlights
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
not so great battery power (480 CIPA)
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
bad battery power (440 shots)
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography advice
Sony A35 Travel photography advice
52
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (480 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
58
lighter than competition in class (415 grams)
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (440 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography details
Sony A35 Landscape photography details
66
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
not so great battery power (480 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
69
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
bad battery power (440 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A550
Vlogging with Sony A35
9
can't shoot video
36
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic jack
lighter than competition in class (415g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sony A550 vs Sony A35 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony A35
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony SLT-A35
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony SLT-A35
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-12-09 2011-09-20
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 143 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 922k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 12.00 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, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 632 gr (1.39 lbs) 415 gr (0.91 lbs)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 74
DXO Color Depth rating 21.9 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 12.7
DXO Low light rating 807 763
Other
Battery life 480 photos 440 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch price $749 $598