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Sony A700 vs Sony W550

Portability
58
Imaging
51
Features
58
Overall
53
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony A700 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Sony A700
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 768g - 142 x 105 x 80mm
  • Revealed December 2007
  • Superseded the Konica Minolta 7D
  • Renewed by Sony A77
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Announced July 2011
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Sony A700 vs Sony W550 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Sony A700 versus Sony W550, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact and both are built by Sony. The resolution of the A700 (12MP) and the W550 (14MP) is fairly close but the A700 (APS-C) and W550 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The A700 was released 4 years before the W550 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A700 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the A700 scores against the W550 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A700 over the Sony W550

 A700 W550 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony A700

 W550 A700 
AnnouncedJuly 2011December 2007More modern by 43 months

Common features in the Sony A700 and Sony W550

 A700 W550 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Sony A700 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony A700 features exterior dimensions of 142mm x 105mm x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1") and a weight of 768 grams (1.69 lbs) while the Sony W550 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A700 versus Sony W550 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the A700 versus the W550.

Sony A700 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the A700 and W550 is 58 and 96 respectively.

Sony A700 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Sony A700 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes merely by researching technical specs. The picture here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A700 and W550.

As you can tell, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A700 because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony W550 will render more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged A700 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sony A700 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Sony A700 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A700 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A700 Portrait photography info
Sony W550 Portrait photography info
54
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
sensor resolution low (12MP)
28
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A700 as a Street photography camera
Sony W550 as a Street photography camera
64
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
fixed screen
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A700 Sports photography advice
Sony W550 Sports photography advice
56
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
slow frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
35
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony A700 Travel photography highlights
Sony W550 Travel photography highlights
49
weather proof
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
65
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A700
Landscape photography with Sony W550
62
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
no liveview
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
42
reasonably wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A700 Vlogging info
Sony W550 Vlogging info
9
no video shooting
29
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone port
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Sony A700 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A700 and Sony W550
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Type Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Revealed 2007-12-19 2011-07-24
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4272 x 2848 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.6x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, rear curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 768 grams (1.69 lb) 110 grams (0.24 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 105 x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.9 not tested
DXO Low light score 581 not tested
Other
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Dual -
Launch pricing $1,000 $119