Sony W800 vs Sony A55

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.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800 and Sony SLT-A55. The complete galleries are viewable at Sony W800 Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.