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Sony W550 vs Sony W690

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sony W550 vs Sony W690 Key Specs

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
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Introduced February 2012
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Sony W550 vs Sony W690 Overview

Following is a complete analysis of the Sony W550 vs Sony W690, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Sony. The sensor resolution of the W550 (14MP) and the W690 (16MP) is pretty similar and they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The W550 was announced 7 months prior to the W690 so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony W690 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the W550 scores versus the W690 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony W690

 W550 W690 

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Sony W550

 W690 W550 
IntroducedFebruary 2012July 2011More modern by 7 months

Common features in the Sony W550 and Sony W690

 W550 W690 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Sony W550 vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Sony W550 has physical measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs) whilst the Sony W690 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

See the Sony W550 vs Sony W690 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the W550 vs the W690.

Sony W550 vs Sony W690 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the W550 and W690 is 96 and 95 respectively.

Sony W550 vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Sony W550 vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the W550 and W690.

Clearly, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should expect the Sony W690 to offer you extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged W550 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Sony W550 vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Sony W550 vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W550 vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W550 Portrait photography info
Sony W690 Portrait photography info
28
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
34
MP count decent (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony W550 Street photography features
Sony W690 Street photography features
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony W550
Sports photography with Sony W690
35
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony W550 Travel photography details
Sony W690 Travel photography details
65
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.7)
68
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W550 Landscape photography factors
Sony W690 Landscape photography factors
42
fairly wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
no manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
43
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W550 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W690 as a Vlogging camera
29
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Sony W550 vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W550 and Sony W690
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-07-24 2012-02-28
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip BIONZ BIONZ
Sensor type CCD 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 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
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
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-104mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/2.7-5.7 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech Clear Photo LCD ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 2s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.80 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 110g (0.24 pounds) 142g (0.31 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 life - 220 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BN1 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots - Single
Price at launch $119 $297