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Sony HX7V vs Sony W550

Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony HX7V vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Sony HX7V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 208g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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 HX7V vs Sony W550 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Sony HX7V and Sony W550, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Ultracompact and they are both offered by Sony. The sensor resolution of the HX7V (16MP) and the W550 (14MP) is very close and both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The HX7V was brought out within a month of the W550 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony HX7V being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the HX7V scores vs the W550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX7V over the Sony W550

 HX7V W550 
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony HX7V

 W550 HX7V 

Common features in the Sony HX7V and Sony W550

 HX7V W550 
LaunchedJuly 2011July 2011Same generation
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Sony HX7V vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony HX7V provides physical measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) while the Sony W550 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Analyze the Sony HX7V and Sony W550 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the HX7V compared to the W550.

Sony HX7V vs Sony W550 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the HX7V and W550 is 92 and 96 respectively.

Sony HX7V vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX7V vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions purely by researching a spec sheet. The picture below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the HX7V and W550.

Clearly, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Sony HX7V to provide you with extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images way more aggressively.

Sony HX7V vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Sony HX7V vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX7V vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX7V Portrait photography features
Sony W550 Portrait photography features
30
decent MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
28
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony HX7V Street photography highlights
Sony W550 Street photography highlights
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony HX7V
Sports photography with Sony W550
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX7V Travel photography information
Sony W550 Travel photography information
67
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
65
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX7V Landscape photography factors
Sony W550 Landscape photography factors
42
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse function
42
fairly wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX7V as a Vlogging camera
Sony W550 as a Vlogging camera
32
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no microphone jack
29
fairly wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone jack
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Sony HX7V vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX7V and Sony W550
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7VSony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Introduced 2011-07-19 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip BIONZ BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech XtraFine LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.80 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 208 grams (0.46 pounds) 110 grams (0.24 pounds)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 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-BG1 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single -
Retail cost $499 $119