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Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A55

Portability
84
Imaging
63
Features
71
Overall
66
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Launched December 2011
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Released August 2010
  • Updated by Sony A57
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Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A55 Overview

Following is a in-depth analysis of the Sony NEX-7 versus Sony A55, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are sold by Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the NEX-7 (24MP) and A55 (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The NEX-7 was introduced 16 months after the A55 making them a generation away from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the NEX-7 matches up versus the A55 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Sony A55

 NEX-7 A55 
ReleasedDecember 2011August 2010More modern by 16 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony NEX-7

 A55 NEX-7 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony NEX-7 and Sony A55

 NEX-7 A55 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Display resolution921k921kExact same display resolution
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony NEX-7 provides physical dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs) whilst the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Compare the Sony NEX-7 versus Sony A55 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the NEX-7 compared to the A55.

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NEX-7 and A55 is 84 and 67 respectively.

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to see the difference in sensor sizes purely by researching specifications. The pic underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-7 and A55.

Plainly, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Sony NEX-7 to render extra detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more recent NEX-7 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Portrait photography advice
Sony A55 Portrait photography advice
77
focusing manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
73
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Street photography features
Sony A55 Street photography features
76
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
77
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Sports photography highlights
Sony A55 Sports photography highlights
61
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (430 shots)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
not so great battery power (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Travel photography highlights
Sony A55 Travel photography highlights
70
better than average battery pack (430 CIPA)
MP count good (24MP)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
62
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-7 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A55 as a Landscape photography camera
72
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
MP count good (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (430 CIPA)
no image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
67
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
not so great battery power (380 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Vlogging highlights
Sony A55 Vlogging highlights
35
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic support
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
78
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic port
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Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-7 and Sony A55
 Sony Alpha NEX-7Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-7 Sony SLT-A55
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-12-13 2010-08-24
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 16000 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 25 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 121 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.73x 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 400g (0.88 lb) 500g (1.10 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 81 73
DXO Color Depth score 24.1 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 13.4 12.4
DXO Low light score 1016 816
Other
Battery life 430 pictures 380 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $699 $800