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Sony W380 vs Sony W550

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
25
Overall
32
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony W380 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Sony W380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 117g - 91 x 52 x 20mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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
Photography Glossary

Sony W380 vs Sony W550 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Sony W380 vs Sony W550, both Ultracompact digital cameras and they are both manufactured by Sony. The sensor resolution of the W380 (14MP) and the W550 (14MP) is pretty similar and both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The W380 was introduced 18 months before the W550 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both cameras feature the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the W380 scores versus the W550 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony W380 over the Sony W550

 W380 W550 

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony W380

 W550 W380 
ReleasedJuly 2011January 2010More modern by 18 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Sony W380 and Sony W550

 W380 W550 
Manual focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Sony W380 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you should think about its weight and size. The Sony W380 provides exterior dimensions of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Sony W550 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

See the Sony W380 vs Sony W550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the W380 vs the W550.

Sony W380 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the W380 and W550 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Sony W380 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Sony W380 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes merely by going over technical specs. The image below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the W380 and W550.

As you can tell, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same exact MP therefore you can expect similar quality of photographs but you need to take the launch date of the products into consideration. The more aged W380 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sony W380 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Sony W380 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W380 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W380 Portrait photography info
Sony W550 Portrait photography info
28
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
28
good resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony W380
Street photography with Sony W550
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony W380 Sports photography info
Sony W550 Sports photography info
35
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
35
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony W380 Travel photography details
Sony W550 Travel photography details
65
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
65
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony W380
Landscape photography with Sony W550
38
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
42
fairly wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W380 Vlogging advice
Sony W550 Vlogging advice
29
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic port
29
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic port
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Sony W380 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W380 and Sony W550
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Revealed 2010-01-07 2011-07-24
Body design Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/2.4-5.9 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 2 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 117g (0.26 pounds) 110g (0.24 pounds)
Physical dimensions 91 x 52 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") 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 ID NP-BN1 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / Pro HG-Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single -
Retail cost $44 $119