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Sony A550 vs Zeiss ZX1

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Zeiss ZX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
78
Features
62
Overall
71

Sony A550 vs Zeiss ZX1 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
Zeiss ZX1
(Full Review)
  • 37MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 4.34" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 51200
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 35mm (F2-22) lens
  • 800g - 142 x 93 x 46mm
  • Announced September 2018
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Sony A550 vs Zeiss ZX1 Overview

Below is a extensive comparison of the Sony A550 versus Zeiss ZX1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Sony and Zeiss. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and ZX1 (37MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and ZX1 (Full frame) provide different sensor measurements.

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The A550 was manufactured 9 years prior to the ZX1 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Zeiss ZX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the A550 scores versus the ZX1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Zeiss ZX1

 A550 ZX1 

Reasons to pick Zeiss ZX1 over the Sony A550

 ZX1 A550 
AnnouncedSeptember 2018December 2009More recent by 107 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display size4.34"3"Larger display (+1.34")
Display resolution2765k922kClearer display (+1843k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A550 and Zeiss ZX1

 A550 ZX1 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Sony A550 vs Zeiss ZX1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony A550 comes with outer measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Zeiss ZX1 has sizing of 142mm x 93mm x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A550 versus Zeiss ZX1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the A550 and the ZX1.

Sony A550 vs Zeiss ZX1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A550 and ZX1 is 63 and 67 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Zeiss ZX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Zeiss ZX1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the gap between sensor measurements only by reading specifications. The graphic underneath will provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the A550 and ZX1.

Plainly, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A550 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Zeiss ZX1 will offer extra detail due to its extra 23MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos way more aggressively. The older A550 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Sony A550 vs Zeiss ZX1 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
Zeiss ZX1 as a Portrait photography camera
72
focusing manually
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
86
focusing manually
MP count amazing (37MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography features
Zeiss ZX1 Street photography features
74
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
70
screen articulates
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
has touch focus
above average ISO range (51,200)
no image stabilization
heavier than competitors in class (800g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 Sports photography info
Zeiss ZX1 Sports photography info
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
not so great battery (480 per charge)
64
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
MP count amazing (37MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
focal length is fixed (35mm)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
Zeiss ZX1 as a Travel photography camera
52
MP count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (480 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
connects via bluetooth
has touch focus
MP count amazing (37MP)
fast maximum aperture (f2)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (800 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A550
Landscape photography with Zeiss ZX1
66
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
not so great battery (480 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
69
focusing manually
fast maximum aperture (f2)
lovely big screen (4.34 inches)
MP count amazing (37MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (35mm)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging features
Zeiss ZX1 Vlogging features
9
lack of video recording
31
fast maximum aperture (f2)
touchscreen functionality
features face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (800g)
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Sony A550 vs Zeiss ZX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Zeiss ZX1
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Zeiss ZX1
General Information
Brand Name Sony Zeiss
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Zeiss ZX1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-12-09 2018-09-27
Physical type Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 365.0mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 37 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4592 x 3056 7488 x 4992
Highest native ISO 12800 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 255
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35mm (1x)
Max aperture - f/2-22
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 4.34 inch
Resolution of display 922 thousand dots 2,765 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 6,221 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 632 gr (1.39 lbs) 800 gr (1.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 142 x 93 x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 not tested
DXO Low light rating 807 not tested
Other
Battery life 480 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FM500H -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo 512GB internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $749 -