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Sony A550 vs Sony A65

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony SLT-A65 front
Portability
64
Imaging
63
Features
85
Overall
71

Sony A550 vs Sony A65 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
  • Launched December 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A100
Sony A65
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 622g - 132 x 97 x 81mm
  • Launched November 2011
  • Replacement is Sony A68
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Sony A550 vs Sony A65 Overview

Here is a thorough review of the Sony A550 vs Sony A65, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras and they are both manufactured by Sony. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and A65 (24MP) but both cameras have the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The A550 was manufactured 23 months earlier than the A65 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the A550 matches up vs the A65 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony A65

 A550 A65 
Screen resolution922k921kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A65 over the Sony A550

 A65 A550 
LaunchedNovember 2011December 2009Fresher by 23 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony A65

 A550 A65 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Sony A550 vs Sony A65 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony A550 has got exterior measurements 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 A65 has proportions of 132mm x 97mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") having a weight of 622 grams (1.37 lbs).

Compare the Sony A550 vs Sony A65 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the A550 compared to the A65.

Sony A550 vs Sony A65 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the A550 and A65 is 63 and 64 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony A65 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A65 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing merely by looking at technical specs. The visual below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the A550 and A65.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sony A65 to resolve greater detail due to its extra 10MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older A550 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A550 vs Sony A65 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A65 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony A65 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography info
Sony A65 Portrait photography info
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
supports RAW files
77
has manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography details
Sony A65 Street photography details
74
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
77
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography information
Sony A65 Sports photography information
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
bad battery pack (480 shots)
81
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography factors
Sony A65 Travel photography factors
52
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (480 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly display
68
good MP (24MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography info
Sony A65 Landscape photography info
66
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
bad battery pack (480 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
75
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A65 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
78
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic socket
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Sony A550 vs Sony A65 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony A65
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony SLT-A65
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony SLT-A65
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-12-09 2011-11-15
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 365.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 143 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 922k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 10.00 m
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632g (1.39 pounds) 622g (1.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 132 x 97 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 66 74
DXO Color Depth score 21.9 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 12.6
DXO Low light score 807 717
Other
Battery life 480 images 560 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $749 $700