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Sony A550 vs Sony A37

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Sony A550 vs Sony A37 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
  • Announced December 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A100
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed May 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony A35
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Sony A550 vs Sony A37 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Sony A550 versus Sony A37, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras and both are designed by Sony. The image resolution of the A550 (14MP) and the A37 (16MP) is pretty close and they possess the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The A550 was released 3 years earlier than the A37 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the A550 matches up against the A37 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony A37

 A550 A37 
Screen sizing3"2.6"Bigger screen (+0.4")
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Sony A550

 A37 A550 
RevealedMay 2012December 2009Newer by 29 months

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony A37

 A550 A37 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Sony A550 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony A550 enjoys exterior dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony A37 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A550 versus Sony A37 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the A550 vs the A37.

Sony A550 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the A550 and A37 is 63 and 67 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by researching specifications. The picture below will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the A550 and A37.

To sum up, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Sony A37 to provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged A550 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A550 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A37 as a Portrait photography camera
72
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
74
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 as a Street photography camera
Sony A37 as a Street photography camera
74
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
77
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography highlights
Sony A37 Sports photography highlights
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
low battery life (480 shots)
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
bad battery life (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A550
Travel photography with Sony A37
52
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
low battery life (480 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
54
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery life (500 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography advice
Sony A37 Landscape photography advice
66
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low battery life (480 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
64
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.6 inches)
bad battery life (500 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging details
Sony A37 Vlogging details
9
can't shoot video
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Sony A550 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony A37
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony SLT-A37
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-12-09 2012-05-16
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 143 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 2.6 inches
Resolution of display 922k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 12.00 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, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone 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 pounds) 506 grams (1.12 pounds)
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 Overall score 66 75
DXO Color Depth score 21.9 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 12.9
DXO Low light score 807 799
Other
Battery life 480 images 500 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $749 $522