Sony A550 has a
14.0MP APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Bionz processor. On the other hand, Canon 1Ds has a
11.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .
Below you can see the A550 and 1Ds sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A550 and Canon 1Ds Cameras
As seen above, Canon 1Ds has a 2.3x Larger sensor area than Sony A550. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Sony A550 and Canon 1Ds sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, A550 has scored 66, 3 points higher than 1Ds.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Sony A550
66
21.9 bits
11.8 Evs
807 ISO
Canon 1Ds
63
21.8 bits
11.0 Evs
954 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Sony A550
or the
Canon 1Ds ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(APS-C versus Full frame),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
