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Sony HX90V vs Sony W550

Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
63
Overall
51
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony HX90V vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Sony HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched April 2015
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Released July 2011
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Sony HX90V vs Sony W550 Overview

In this article, we will be matching up the Sony HX90V versus Sony W550, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact and both are designed by Sony. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the HX90V (18MP) and W550 (14MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The HX90V was released 3 years later than the W550 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony HX90V being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the HX90V matches up against the W550 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Sony W550

 HX90V W550 
ReleasedApril 2015July 2011Fresher by 46 months
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony HX90V

 W550 HX90V 

Common features in the Sony HX90V and Sony W550

 HX90V W550 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Sony HX90V vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony HX90V has outside dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony W550 has measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Check the Sony HX90V versus Sony W550 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the HX90V compared to the W550.

Sony HX90V vs Sony W550 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the HX90V and W550 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Sony HX90V vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX90V vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizing merely by going through specs. The photograph here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the HX90V and W550.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Sony HX90V to provide more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The more recent HX90V will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Sony HX90V vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Sony HX90V vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX90V vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX90V Portrait photography features
Sony W550 Portrait photography features
45
manual focus
decent megapixels (18MP)
provides face detect focus
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
28
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony HX90V
Street photography with Sony W550
69
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (245g)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX90V as a Sports photography camera
Sony W550 as a Sports photography camera
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
great battery pack (360 CIPA)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony HX90V
Travel photography with Sony W550
76
great battery pack (360 CIPA)
lighter than others (245 grams)
decent megapixels (18MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
reasonably wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
slow max aperture (f3.5)
65
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony HX90V
Landscape photography with Sony W550
53
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
great battery pack (360 CIPA)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
42
quite wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX90V as a Vlogging camera
Sony W550 as a Vlogging camera
75
reasonably wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (245 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have mic support
29
quite wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
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Sony HX90V vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX90V and Sony W550
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90VSony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Launched 2015-04-14 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz X 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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4896 x 3672 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-6.4 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 638 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.5x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.40 m (with Auto ISO) 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 245g (0.54 lbs) 110g (0.24 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-BX1 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single -
Price at launch $440 $119