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Sony A55 vs Sony A99

Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65
Sony SLT-A55 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
70
Features
88
Overall
77

Sony A55 vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony A57
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Launched December 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A900
  • Newer Model is Sony A99 II
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Sony A55 vs Sony A99 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Sony A55 and Sony A99, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Advanced DSLR and both are manufactured by Sony. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the A55 (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the A55 (APS-C) and A99 (Full frame) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The A55 was introduced 3 years before the A99 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the A55 grades against the A99 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony A99

 A55 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony A55

 A99 A55 
LaunchedDecember 2012August 2010More modern by 28 months
Display resolution1229k921kSharper display (+308k dot)

Common features in the Sony A55 and Sony A99

 A55 A99 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Sony A55 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony A55 provides exterior measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Sony A99 has dimensions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

See the Sony A55 and Sony A99 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the A55 vs the A99.

Sony A55 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the A55 and A99 is 67 and 57 respectively.

Sony A55 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony A55 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes only by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture below will provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the A55 and A99.

As you can see, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A55 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A99 will offer more detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged A55 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony A55 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony A55 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A55 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A55 Portrait photography details
Sony A99 Portrait photography details
73
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW files
82
you can focus manually
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony A55 Street photography information
Sony A99 Street photography information
77
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
75
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
great ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A55 Sports photography information
Sony A99 Sports photography information
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
not so great battery pack (380 CIPA)
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect AF
bad battery pack (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A55
Travel photography with Sony A99
62
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (380 per charge)
60
weather sealing
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
no Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A55 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 as a Landscape photography camera
67
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
not so great battery pack (380 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
75
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
2 card slots
bad battery pack (500 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A55
Vlogging with Sony A99
78
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone support
76
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone support
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Sony A55 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A55 and Sony A99
 Sony SLT-A55Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony SLT-A55 Sony SLT-A99
Class Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2010-08-24 2012-12-12
Physical type Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4912 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 15 19
Cross type focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 143 143
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 921k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,150k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.73x 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 500 gr (1.10 lbs) 812 gr (1.79 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 89
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 14.0
DXO Low light rating 816 1555
Other
Battery life 380 pictures 500 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FW50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots 1 Dual
Launch pricing $800 $1,998