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Sony W550 vs Sony W730

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
33
Overall
37

Sony W550 vs Sony W730 Key Specs

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
Sony W730
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-224mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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Sony W550 vs Sony W730 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Sony W550 and Sony W730, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are built by Sony. The sensor resolution of the W550 (14MP) and the W730 (16MP) is pretty similar and they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The W550 was unveiled 17 months before the W730 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony W730 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief view of how the W550 matches up versus the W730 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony W730

 W550 W730 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony W730 over the Sony W550

 W730 W550 
IntroducedJanuary 2013July 2011Newer by 17 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony W550 and Sony W730

 W550 W730 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Sony W550 vs Sony W730 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Sony W550 has outer 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 W730 has specifications of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") with a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Sony W550 and Sony W730 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the W550 versus the W730.

Sony W550 vs Sony W730 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the W550 and W730 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Sony W550 vs Sony W730 top view buttons comparison

Sony W550 vs Sony W730 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading specs. The pic below should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the W550 and W730.

All in all, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Sony W730 to offer more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged W550 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony W550 vs Sony W730 sensor size comparison

Sony W550 vs Sony W730 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W550 vs Sony W730 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W550 Portrait photography information
Sony W730 Portrait photography information
28
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
35
resolution is good (16MP)
includes face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony W550
Street photography with Sony W730
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
67
image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
lighter than average (122g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony W550 Sports photography information
Sony W730 Sports photography information
35
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
41
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony W550 Travel photography info
Sony W730 Travel photography info
65
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
71
lighter than average (122 grams)
features focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W730 as a Landscape photography camera
42
reasonably wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
39
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W550 Vlogging details
Sony W730 Vlogging details
29
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone port
34
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
lighter than average (122 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone socket
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Sony W550 vs Sony W730 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W550 and Sony W730
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-07-24 2013-01-08
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-104mm (4.0x) 25-224mm (9.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.7-5.7 f/3.3-6.3
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech Clear Photo LCD TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 2 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.80 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 110 gr (0.24 lbs) 122 gr (0.27 lbs)
Dimensions 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") 93 x 52 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9")
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 - 240 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 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
Storage type 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 - 1
Retail price $119 $138