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Sony W800 vs Sony A55

Portability
96
Imaging
45
Features
29
Overall
38
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony W800 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Sony W800
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.2-6.4) lens
  • 125g - 97 x 55 x 21mm
  • Launched February 2014
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A57
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Sony W800 vs Sony A55 Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Sony W800 and Sony A55, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are sold by Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the W800 (20MP) and A55 (16MP) and the W800 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The W800 was launched 3 years later than the A55 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony W800 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the W800 matches up against the A55 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony W800 over the Sony A55

 W800 A55 
IntroducedFebruary 2014August 2010More recent by 43 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony W800

 A55 W800 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony W800 and Sony A55

 W800 A55 
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Sony W800 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony W800 enjoys outer dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Contrast the Sony W800 and Sony A55 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the W800 and the A55.

Sony W800 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the W800 and A55 is 96 and 67 respectively.

Sony W800 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony W800 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements only by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the W800 and A55.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The W800 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Sony W800 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The newer W800 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Sony W800 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony W800 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W800 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W800 Portrait photography features
Sony A55 Portrait photography features
38
good resolution (20MP)
offers face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony W800 Street photography info
Sony A55 Street photography info
65
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (125g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
77
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony W800 Sports photography highlights
Sony A55 Sports photography highlights
43
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery pack (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony W800 Travel photography details
Sony A55 Travel photography details
70
lighter than average (125g)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.2)
62
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W800 Landscape photography info
Sony A55 Landscape photography info
41
relatively wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
67
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
not so great battery pack (380 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony W800
Vlogging with Sony A55
33
relatively wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than average (125g)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone support
78
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic socket
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Sony W800 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W800 and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800 Sony SLT-A55
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2014-02-13 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5152 x 3864 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.2-6.4 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT LCD display -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 2s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto / Flash On / Slow Synchro / Flash Off / Advanced Flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 AVI MPEG4 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 gr (0.28 lb) 500 gr (1.10 lb)
Dimensions 97 x 55 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BN NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
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 Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $90 $800