Sony W560 vs Sony A55

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.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 and Sony SLT-A55. The entire galleries are provided at Sony W560 Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.