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Sony WX500 vs Sony A55

Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony WX500 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released April 2015
  • Earlier Model is Sony WX350
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
  • Newer Model is Sony A57
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Sony WX500 vs Sony A55 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Sony WX500 and Sony A55, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are produced by Sony. The image resolution of the WX500 (18MP) and the A55 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the WX500 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The WX500 was released 4 years after the A55 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the WX500 scores versus the A55 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Sony A55

 WX500 A55 
RevealedApril 2015August 2010More modern by 57 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony WX500

 A55 WX500 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony WX500 and Sony A55

 WX500 A55 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Screen resolution921k921kEqual screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Sony WX500 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Sony WX500 enjoys physical measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Sony A55 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check out the Sony WX500 and Sony A55 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the WX500 against the A55.

Sony WX500 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the WX500 and A55 is 91 and 67 respectively.

Sony WX500 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony WX500 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor sizes simply by going through specs. The pic here might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the WX500 and A55.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The WX500 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony WX500 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The younger WX500 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Sony WX500 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony WX500 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony WX500 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony WX500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A55 as a Portrait photography camera
39
megapixel count decent (18MP)
includes face detection focusing
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
73
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony WX500 Street photography information
Sony A55 Street photography information
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (236g)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
77
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony WX500 Sports photography features
Sony A55 Sports photography features
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (360 shots)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
not so great battery pack (380 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony WX500 Travel photography information
Sony A55 Travel photography information
71
better than average battery pack (360 CIPA)
lighter than average (236g)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
no Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
62
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (380 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony WX500 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A55 Landscape photography highlights
49
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
better than average battery pack (360 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse function
67
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
not so great battery pack (380 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony WX500
Vlogging with Sony A55
35
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (236g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no external microphone port
78
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic socket
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Sony WX500 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony WX500 and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 Sony SLT-A55
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2015-04-14 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz X Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 18 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4896 x 3672 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-6.4 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 921k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.40 m (with Auto ISO) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync 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
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 236g (0.52 lb) 500g (1.10 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") 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 360 images 380 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BX1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $348 $800