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Sony WX50 vs Sony A55

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony WX50 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Sony WX50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Released January 2012
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
  • Revealed August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A57
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Sony WX50 vs Sony A55 Overview

Let's look closer at the Sony WX50 and Sony A55, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both produced by Sony. The image resolution of the WX50 (16MP) and the A55 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the WX50 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The WX50 was launched 18 months after the A55 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sony WX50 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the WX50 scores versus the A55 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony WX50 over the Sony A55

 WX50 A55 
RevealedJanuary 2012August 2010Newer by 18 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony WX50

 A55 WX50 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k461kSharper screen (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony WX50 and Sony A55

 WX50 A55 
Touch screen No Touch screen

Sony WX50 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony WX50 has external dimensions of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Sony WX50 and Sony A55 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the WX50 against the A55.

Sony WX50 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the WX50 and A55 is 96 and 67 respectively.

Sony WX50 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony WX50 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to see the gap between sensor dimensions purely by checking technical specs. The pic below will give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the WX50 and A55.

As you have seen, both of these cameras posses the exact same resolution albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The WX50 comes with the tinier sensor which should make getting shallower DOF tougher. The newer WX50 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Sony WX50 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony WX50 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony WX50 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony WX50 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A55 as a Portrait photography camera
34
decent megapixels (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
73
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony WX50
Street photography with Sony A55
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
77
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony WX50 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A55 as a Sports photography camera
44
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery power (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony WX50 Travel photography advice
Sony A55 Travel photography advice
69
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
62
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony WX50 Landscape photography information
Sony A55 Landscape photography information
38
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
67
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
not so great battery power (380 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony WX50
Vlogging with Sony A55
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic support
78
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone socket
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Sony WX50 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony WX50 and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 Sony SLT-A55
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-01-30 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor BIONZ Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-125mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.6-6.3 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 461 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech Clearfoto TFT LCD display -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.30 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 117 grams (0.26 lbs) 500 grams (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" 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 240 pictures 380 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BN 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 Single Single
Price at launch $250 $800