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Sony A550 vs Sony A99

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony A550 vs Sony A99 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
  • Succeeded the Sony A100
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Released December 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony A900
  • Replacement is Sony A99 II
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Sony A550 vs Sony A99 Overview

The following is a in depth review of the Sony A550 and Sony A99, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Advanced DSLR and both are created by Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and A99 (24MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and A99 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The A550 was introduced 4 years before the A99 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the A550 matches up versus the A99 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony A99

 A550 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony A550

 A99 A550 
ReleasedDecember 2012December 2009Newer by 36 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k922kClearer screen (+307k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony A99

 A550 A99 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Sony A550 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony A550 has external measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony A99 has sizing of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") and a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check out the Sony A550 and Sony A99 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the A550 versus the A99.

Sony A550 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the A550 and A99 is 63 and 57 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to envision the gap between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specs. The image here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the A550 and A99.

All in all, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The A550 having a tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh tougher and the Sony A99 will offer more detail using its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged A550 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A550 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A550
Portrait photography with Sony A99
72
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
81
manual focus
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography details
Sony A99 Street photography details
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
75
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography details
Sony A99 Sports photography details
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (480 shots)
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
has phase detect AF
bad battery power (500 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography info
Sony A99 Travel photography info
52
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (480 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
60
weather proof
resolution is good (24MP)
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (500 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography info
Sony A99 Landscape photography info
66
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
not so great battery life (480 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
two card slots
bad battery power (500 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging information
Sony A99 Vlogging information
9
no video shooting
76
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic socket
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Sony A550 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony A99
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony SLT-A99
Type Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-12-09 2012-12-12
Physical type Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 143 143
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 922 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m no built-in flash
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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/250 secs
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)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 632 grams (1.39 lbs) 812 grams (1.79 lbs)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 89
DXO Color Depth rating 21.9 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 14.0
DXO Low light rating 807 1555
Other
Battery life 480 photographs 500 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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 Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots Single 2
Cost at launch $749 $1,998