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Sony H20 vs Sony A55

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
29
Overall
31
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony H20 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Sony H20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
  • 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
  • Launched May 2009
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Released August 2010
  • Successor is Sony A57
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Sony H20 vs Sony A55 Overview

The following is a comprehensive assessment of the Sony H20 versus Sony A55, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both built by Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the H20 (10MP) and A55 (16MP) and the H20 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The H20 was introduced 15 months before the A55 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Sony H20 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the H20 matches up versus the A55 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Sony A55

 H20 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony H20

 A55 H20 
ReleasedAugust 2010May 2009Newer by 15 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony H20 and Sony A55

 H20 A55 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Sony H20 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony H20 features exterior dimensions of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Analyze the Sony H20 versus Sony A55 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Here is a front view scale comparison of the H20 compared to the A55.

Sony H20 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the H20 and A55 is 87 and 67 respectively.

Sony H20 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony H20 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by going through specs. The pic below might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the H20 and A55.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The H20 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh trickier and the Sony A55 will produce more detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged H20 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony H20 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony H20 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony H20 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony H20
Portrait photography with Sony A55
27
manual focus
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
73
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony H20 Street photography details
Sony A55 Street photography details
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
heavier than competitors (250 grams)
77
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony H20 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A55 as a Sports photography camera
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony H20 Travel photography factors
Sony A55 Travel photography factors
51
has built in flash
great reach (380mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (250 grams)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
62
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse function
bad battery power (380 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony H20 Landscape photography factors
Sony A55 Landscape photography factors
36
manual focus
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
67
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
bad battery power (380 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony H20 Vlogging info
Sony A55 Vlogging info
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
heavier than competitors (250g)
78
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic port
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Sony H20 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony H20 and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 Sony SLT-A55
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-05-14 2010-08-24
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 38-380mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-4.4 -
Macro focus distance 2cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.10 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 250g (0.55 pounds) 500g (1.10 pounds)
Physical dimensions 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BG1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $249 $800