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Sony TX20 vs Sony A55

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony TX20 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Sony TX20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 133g - 96 x 56 x 18mm
  • Introduced February 2012
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed August 2010
  • Updated by Sony A57
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Sony TX20 vs Sony A55 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Sony TX20 versus Sony A55, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are manufactured by Sony. The image resolution of the TX20 (16MP) and the A55 (16MP) is pretty similar but the TX20 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

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The TX20 was manufactured 19 months later than the A55 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony TX20 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the TX20 grades versus the A55 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony TX20 over the Sony A55

 TX20 A55 
RevealedFebruary 2012August 2010More recent by 19 months
Screen resolution922k921kCrisper screen (+1k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony TX20

 A55 TX20 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony TX20 and Sony A55

 TX20 A55 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements

Sony TX20 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony TX20 offers outside dimensions of 96mm x 56mm x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Sony A55 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony TX20 versus Sony A55 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the TX20 vs the A55.

Sony TX20 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the TX20 and A55 is 96 and 67 respectively.

Sony TX20 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony TX20 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements only by reviewing specs. The photograph below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the TX20 and A55.

All in all, each of these cameras come with the identical MP albeit different sensor measurements. The TX20 provides the tinier sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF more challenging. The younger TX20 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony TX20 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony TX20 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony TX20 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony TX20 Portrait photography advice
Sony A55 Portrait photography advice
40
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
73
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony TX20
Street photography with Sony A55
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus via touch
environment proof
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
77
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony TX20 Sports photography highlights
Sony A55 Sports photography highlights
50
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
good battery pack (250 per charge)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (380 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony TX20 Travel photography details
Sony A55 Travel photography details
72
good battery pack (250 CIPA)
environment proof
boasts focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
62
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (380 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony TX20 Landscape photography factors
Sony A55 Landscape photography factors
52
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
environment proof
good battery pack (250 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
67
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
not so great battery pack (380 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony TX20 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A55 as a Vlogging camera
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone support
78
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic support
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Sony TX20 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony TX20 and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 Sony SLT-A55
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-02-28 2010-08-24
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor BIONZ Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-4.6 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 922k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.70 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 133g (0.29 lbs) 500g (1.10 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 56 x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 816
Other
Battery life 250 photographs 380 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BN NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $330 $800