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Sony a5100 vs Sony W550

Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69
Sony Alpha a5100 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony a5100 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Replaced the Sony a5000
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
  • Launched July 2011
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Sony a5100 vs Sony W550 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Sony a5100 versus Sony W550, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact and both of them are offered by Sony. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the a5100 (24MP) and W550 (14MP) and the a5100 (APS-C) and W550 (1/2.3") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The a5100 was revealed 3 years after the W550 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the a5100 scores vs the W550 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Sony W550

 a5100 W550 
LaunchedAugust 2014July 2011More modern by 38 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony a5100

 W550 a5100 

Common features in the Sony a5100 and Sony W550

 a5100 W550 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Sony a5100 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony a5100 has got exterior dimensions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs) while 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).

Check the Sony a5100 versus Sony W550 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the a5100 vs the W550.

Sony a5100 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the a5100 and W550 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Sony a5100 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Sony a5100 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes just by looking through a spec sheet. The image here may give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the a5100 and W550.

Clearly, the two cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The a5100 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Sony a5100 will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more modern a5100 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony a5100 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Sony a5100 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony a5100 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony a5100
Portrait photography with Sony W550
72
manual focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
28
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony a5100 Street photography highlights
Sony W550 Street photography highlights
82
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
boasts touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony a5100 Sports photography info
Sony W550 Sports photography info
68
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery (400 per charge)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony a5100 Travel photography features
Sony W550 Travel photography features
80
better than average battery (400 per charge)
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
65
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony a5100 Landscape photography info
Sony W550 Landscape photography info
79
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (400 shots)
lack of image stabilization
42
reasonably wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony a5100 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W550 as a Vlogging camera
34
touchscreen
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone jack
29
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic support
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Sony a5100 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony a5100 and Sony W550
 Sony Alpha a5100Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha a5100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Introduced 2014-08-17 2011-07-24
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz X BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 179 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 922 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.80 m
Flash modes Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 283g (0.62 pounds) 110g (0.24 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 1347 not tested
Other
Battery life 400 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FW50 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One -
Pricing at launch $448 $119