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Sony A550 vs Sony A58

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony SLT-A58 front
Portability
68
Imaging
62
Features
72
Overall
66

Sony A550 vs Sony A58 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
  • Replaced the Sony A100
Sony A58
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 492g - 129 x 95 x 78mm
  • Released November 2013
  • Old Model is Sony A57
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Sony A550 vs Sony A58 Overview

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Sony A550 and Sony A58, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras and they are both sold by Sony. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and A58 (20MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The A550 was released 5 years prior to the A58 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the A550 matches up versus the A58 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony A58

 A550 A58 
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k460kSharper display (+462k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A58 over the Sony A550

 A58 A550 
ReleasedNovember 2013December 2009More modern by 48 months

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony A58

 A550 A58 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Sony A550 vs Sony A58 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony A550 has got outside 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) while the Sony A58 has proportions of 129mm x 95mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1") along with a weight of 492 grams (1.08 lbs).

Look at the Sony A550 and Sony A58 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the A550 and the A58.

Sony A550 vs Sony A58 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the A550 and A58 is 63 and 68 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony A58 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A58 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by going over a spec sheet. The pic underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A550 and A58.

Clearly, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should expect to see the Sony A58 to deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A550 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A550 vs Sony A58 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A58 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony A58 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A58 as a Portrait photography camera
72
you can focus manually
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW formats
77
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography highlights
Sony A58 Street photography highlights
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
78
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography details
Sony A58 Sports photography details
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (480 shots)
81
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery power (690 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography advice
Sony A58 Travel photography advice
52
MP count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (480 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
63
good battery power (690 per charge)
MP count good (20MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A550
Landscape photography with Sony A58
66
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
not so great battery pack (480 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
70
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (690 shots)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging advice
Sony A58 Vlogging advice
9
can't record video
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Sony A550 vs Sony A58 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony A58
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony SLT-A58
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony SLT-A58
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-12-09 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 12800 16000
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 143 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.6
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 922k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.65x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 632 grams (1.39 lbs) 492 grams (1.08 lbs)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 129 x 95 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 74
DXO Color Depth rating 21.9 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 12.5
DXO Low light rating 807 753
Other
Battery life 480 pictures 690 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
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 1 1
Retail cost $749 $645