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Sony G3 vs Sony W550

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony G3 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Sony G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
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
  • Introduced July 2011
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Sony G3 vs Sony W550 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Sony G3 and Sony W550, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Ultracompact and both are produced by Sony. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the G3 (10MP) and W550 (14MP) but they come with the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The G3 was unveiled 3 years prior to the W550 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sony G3 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the G3 grades versus the W550 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Sony W550

 G3 W550 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display dimension3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony G3

 W550 G3 
IntroducedJuly 2011January 2009More recent by 30 months

Common features in the Sony G3 and Sony W550

 G3 W550 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Sony G3 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony G3 enjoys outer measurements of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) while the Sony W550 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony G3 and Sony W550 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the G3 vs the W550.

Sony G3 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the G3 and W550 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Sony G3 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Sony G3 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements merely by seeing specifications. The photograph here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the G3 and W550.

To sum up, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You should expect to see the Sony W550 to show extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older G3 will be behind in sensor tech.

Sony G3 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Sony G3 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony G3 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony G3
Portrait photography with Sony W550
26
focusing manually
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony G3
Street photography with Sony W550
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony G3 Sports photography highlights
Sony W550 Sports photography highlights
23
image stabilization (Optical)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,000 seconds)
low fps (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony G3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
50
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
65
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
no Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony G3 Landscape photography information
Sony W550 Landscape photography information
36
focusing manually
big screen (3.5 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
42
pretty wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony G3
Vlogging with Sony W550
27
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
29
pretty wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone port
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Sony G3 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony G3 and Sony W550
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Category Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Launched 2009-01-08 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35-140mm (4.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-10.0 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus range - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 1s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/1000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.30 m (Auto ISO) 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG 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 185 grams (0.41 lbs) 110 grams (0.24 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One -
Price at release $200 $119