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Sony QX30 vs Sony W550

Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony QX30 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Revealed September 2014
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
  • Introduced July 2011
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Sony QX30 vs Sony W550 Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Sony QX30 and Sony W550, former is a Lens-style while the latter is a Ultracompact and both are built by Sony. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the QX30 (20MP) and W550 (14MP) but they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The QX30 was unveiled 3 years after the W550 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a short view of how the QX30 matches up versus the W550 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Sony W550

 QX30 W550 
IntroducedSeptember 2014July 2011More modern by 38 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony QX30

 W550 QX30 
Screen sizing3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution230k0kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Sony QX30 and Sony W550

 QX30 W550 
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Sony QX30 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony QX30 provides outer measurements of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) while the Sony W550 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Look at the Sony QX30 and 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 are employing during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the QX30 vs the W550.

Sony QX30 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the QX30 and W550 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Sony QX30 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Sony QX30 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to see the difference in sensor sizes only by going through technical specs. The pic underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the QX30 and W550.

As you have seen, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Sony QX30 to provide greater detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more recent QX30 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony QX30 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Sony QX30 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony QX30 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony QX30 Portrait photography details
Sony W550 Portrait photography details
38
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
includes face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
28
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony QX30 Street photography advice
Sony W550 Street photography advice
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has touch focus
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony QX30 Sports photography details
Sony W550 Sports photography details
47
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 shots)
has no phase detect AF
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony QX30 Travel photography factors
Sony W550 Travel photography factors
65
has touch focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
65
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony QX30
Landscape photography with Sony W550
39
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen ( inches)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery power (200 shots)
no Time Lapse function
42
quite wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony QX30 Vlogging features
Sony W550 Vlogging features
35
pretty wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no mic port
29
quite wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.7)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone socket
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Sony QX30 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony QX30 and Sony W550
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Category Lens-style Ultracompact
Revealed 2014-09-03 2011-07-24
Physical type Lens-style Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 20MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
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/3.5-6.3 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing - 3 inches
Resolution of display 0 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.80 m
Flash modes None Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 193g (0.43 lb) 110g (0.24 lb)
Dimensions 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 200 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-BN, NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 -
Cost at release $348 $119