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Sony W560 vs Sony A55

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony W560 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Sony W560
(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
  • Introduced January 2011
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony A57
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Sony W560 vs Sony A55 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Sony W560 and Sony A55, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both created by Sony. The sensor resolution of the W560 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the W560 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The W560 was brought out 5 months later than the A55 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony W560 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a short summary of how the W560 scores vs the A55 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony W560 over the Sony A55

 W560 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony W560

 A55 W560 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony W560 and Sony A55

 W560 A55 
IntroducedJanuary 2011August 2010Same generation
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Sony W560 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera often, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony W560 has exterior measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs) while the Sony A55 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

See the Sony W560 and Sony A55 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the W560 vs the A55.

Sony W560 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the W560 and A55 is 96 and 67 respectively.

Sony W560 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony W560 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to envision the difference in sensor sizing merely by going through technical specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the W560 and A55.

As you have seen, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The W560 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A55 will show more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images far more aggressively.

Sony W560 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony W560 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W560 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony W560
Portrait photography with Sony A55
28
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
73
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony W560 Street photography highlights
Sony A55 Street photography highlights
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
77
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony W560 Sports photography info
Sony A55 Sports photography info
35
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
low battery (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony W560
Travel photography with Sony A55
65
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.7)
62
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse function
low battery (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W560 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A55 as a Landscape photography camera
42
decently wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
67
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
low battery (380 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W560 Vlogging information
Sony A55 Vlogging information
29
decently wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic jack
78
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone socket
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Sony W560 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W560 and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 Sony SLT-A55
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-01-06 2010-08-24
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip BIONZ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
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) -
Highest aperture f/2.7-5.7 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech Clear Photo LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 2s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.80 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum 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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 110 gr (0.24 lb) 500 gr (1.10 lb)
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 All around 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 photos
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 feature
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 Single Single
Retail price $139 $800