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Sony W550 vs Sony A55

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony W550 vs Sony A55 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
  • Introduced July 2011
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Refreshed by Sony A57
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Sony W550 vs Sony A55 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Sony W550 vs Sony A55, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both sold by Sony. The sensor resolution of the W550 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the W550 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The W550 was manufactured 12 months after the A55 and they are of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the W550 matches up vs the A55 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony A55

 W550 A55 
LaunchedJuly 2011August 2010More modern by 12 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony W550

 A55 W550 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony W550 and Sony A55

 W550 A55 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Sony W550 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Sony W550 has got external dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs) whilst the Sony A55 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Sony W550 vs Sony A55 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the W550 compared to the A55.

Sony W550 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the W550 and A55 is 96 and 67 respectively.

Sony W550 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony W550 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by checking specifications. The image underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the W550 and A55.

Plainly, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The W550 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A55 will resolve extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more modern W550 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Sony W550 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony W550 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W550 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W550 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A55 as a Portrait photography camera
28
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
73
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony W550 Street photography information
Sony A55 Street photography information
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
77
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony W550
Sports photography with Sony A55
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low battery life (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony W550 Travel photography features
Sony A55 Travel photography features
65
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
62
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery life (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W550 Landscape photography details
Sony A55 Landscape photography details
42
decently wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
67
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low battery life (380 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W550 Vlogging info
Sony A55 Vlogging info
29
decently wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
does not have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
78
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic socket
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Sony W550 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W550 and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 Sony SLT-A55
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-07-24 2010-08-24
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor BIONZ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-104mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.7-5.7 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology Clear Photo LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 2s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.80 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings 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
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 110g (0.24 pounds) 500g (1.10 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BN1 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
Launch price $119 $800