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Sony A900 vs Sony W550

Portability
54
Imaging
66
Features
62
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony A900 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced October 2008
  • New Model is Sony A99
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Revealed July 2011
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Sony A900 vs Sony W550 Overview

Lets look closer at the Sony A900 and Sony W550, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact and both are created by Sony. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the A900 (25MP) and W550 (14MP) and the A900 (Full frame) and W550 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The A900 was unveiled 3 years before the W550 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a short overview of how the A900 scores versus the W550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Sony W550

 A900 W550 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony A900

 W550 A900 
RevealedJuly 2011October 2008More modern by 33 months

Common features in the Sony A900 and Sony W550

 A900 W550 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Sony A900 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony A900 has exterior dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) and the Sony W550 has proportions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Examine the Sony A900 and Sony W550 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the A900 and the W550.

Sony A900 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the A900 and W550 is 54 and 96 respectively.

Sony A900 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Sony A900 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes simply by viewing technical specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the A900 and W550.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The A900 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony A900 will provide you with extra detail having an extra 11MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged A900 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony A900 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Sony A900 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A900 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A900 Portrait photography information
Sony W550 Portrait photography information
71
manual focus
resolution is great (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
28
good resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A900 Street photography information
Sony W550 Street photography information
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
fixed screen
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A900 Sports photography advice
Sony W550 Sports photography advice
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is great (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
environment sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
35
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A900 Travel photography details
Sony W550 Travel photography details
54
environment sealing
resolution is great (25MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
65
good resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A900 Landscape photography factors
Sony W550 Landscape photography factors
72
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is great (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
has double storage slots
doesn't have liveview
lack of Timelapse mode
42
relatively wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A900 Vlogging factors
Sony W550 Vlogging factors
9
no video shooting
29
relatively wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
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Sony A900 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A900 and Sony W550
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Category Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2008-10-22 2011-07-24
Physical type Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 25MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6048 x 4032 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 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 distance - 5cm
Available lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 922 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine color LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 895 gr (1.97 lbs) 110 gr (0.24 lbs)
Physical dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 1431 not tested
Other
Battery life 880 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32 SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Dual -
Retail price $2,736 $119