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Sony S950 vs Sony W550

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony S950 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Launched February 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
  • Revealed July 2011
Photography Glossary

Sony S950 vs Sony W550 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Sony S950 and Sony W550, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Ultracompact and both are offered by Sony. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the S950 (10MP) and W550 (14MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The S950 was launched 3 years earlier than the W550 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Sony S950 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a short summary of how the S950 grades vs the W550 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Sony W550

 S950 W550 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony S950

 W550 S950 
RevealedJuly 2011February 2009More modern by 29 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony S950 and Sony W550

 S950 W550 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Sony S950 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony S950 has external dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Sony W550 has proportions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Analyze the Sony S950 and Sony W550 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the S950 and the W550.

Sony S950 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the S950 and W550 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Sony S950 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Sony S950 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by going through specs. The image here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the S950 and W550.

All in all, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should expect to see the Sony W550 to produce greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged S950 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Sony S950 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Sony S950 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony S950 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony S950
Portrait photography with Sony W550
26
has manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
28
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony S950 Street photography features
Sony W550 Street photography features
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony S950 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W550 as a Sports photography camera
24
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony S950 Travel photography factors
Sony W550 Travel photography factors
50
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
low megapixels (10MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
65
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony S950 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
31
has manual focus
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse function
42
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony S950 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W550 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video shooting
29
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
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Sony S950 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony S950 and Sony W550
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Class Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Launched 2009-02-17 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.2 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus range 10cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 2s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic 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 167 gr (0.37 lbs) 110 gr (0.24 lbs)
Physical dimensions 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" 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 recording
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 Single -
Cost at release $130 $119