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Sony A550 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Sony A550

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    Main Features

    • 14MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
    • ISO 200 - 12800
    • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
    • 3.00" Tilting Screen
    • Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder
    • 7.0fps continuous shooting
    • 632g. 137 x 104 x 84 mm
    • Replaced Sony A100
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Sony A550 Overview

    Launched in December 2009 , Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 is a 14.0MP Entry-Level DSLR camera with a APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization, Tilting screen and Sony/Minolta Alpha lens mount. Sony replaced the older A100 with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:
    Compare Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 vs Sony A100

    Sony A550 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Lens Mount and Lenses
    4. Sensor and Photography Features
    5. Physical Specs
    6. LCD and Viewfinder
    7. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    8. Other Features
    9. Photography Type Scores
    10. Alternatives
    11. Popular Comparisons
    12. Frequently Asked Questions
    13. Detailed Specifications

    Sony A550 is a member of Sony's A500 series of cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this series and how their main specs have changed with each new version.

    Sony A500 Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Sony A580
    Compare
    2011 16.0MP - APS-C 7.0 fps 137 x 104 x 84mm 599g
    Sony A560
    Compare
    2010 14.0MP - APS-C 5.0 fps 137 x 104 x 84mm 599g
    Sony A550
    2009 14.0MP - APS-C 7.0 fps 137 x 104 x 84mm 632g
    Sony A500
    Compare
    2009 12.0MP - APS-C 5.0 fps 137 x 104 x 84mm 630g

    Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side by side:
    Sony A580 vs A560 vs A550 vs A500

    Alternative Model names found for Sony Alpha DSLR-A550: DSLRA550, A550, A 550, Alpha A550 and A-550.


    **This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Sony A550 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Sony A550 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Image Stabilization
    Articulating Screen
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Face Detection Focusing
    12.800 Max ISO
    922k dots LCD Resolution
    7.0fps Shooting
    Flash Sync Port
    Report a correction

    Buy Sony A550 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Full HD Video
    No Touch Screen
    0.53x magnification - Small Viewfinder
    Low Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
    Only 9 Focus Points
    Low Battery Life: 480 shots
    No Environmental Sealing
    No AF Micro Adjustment

    Report a correction


    Sony A550 Physical Specs
    Sony A550 weighs 632 g (1.39 lb / 22.29 oz) and has external dimensions of 137 x 104 x 84 mm (5.39 x 4.09 x 3.31″). Considering that the average weight of DSLR type cameras is 773g, Sony A550 is a remarkably light camera for its class. With a thickness of 84mm, it has an average thickness for its class.
    Weight Comparison

    DSLR Cameras

    Sony A550
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    DSLR Cameras

    Sony A550
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Sony A550 with the dimensions:

    Sony A550 Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Sony A550 Camera Body


    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Sony A550, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Sony A550 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Sony A550 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery


    Now let's compare Sony A550 size with the camera that it replaced: Sony A100. Sony A100 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 4mm narrower, 9mm shorter and 13mm thinner than Sony A550.


    Sony A550 vs Sony A100 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
    Comparison image of Sony A550 and Sony A100 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Sony A550 with its main competitors:

    Sony A550 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs A550 Thickness vs A550
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A580
    Compare
    599g 33g lighter 84mm equal thickness
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A55
    Compare
    500g 132g lighter 85mm 1mm thicker
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A700
    Compare
    768g 136g heavier 80mm 4mm thinner
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A350
    Compare
    674g 42g heavier 75mm 9mm thinner
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A58
    Compare
    492g 140g lighter 78mm 6mm thinner
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A57
    Compare
    618g 14g lighter 81mm 3mm thinner
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A100
    Compare
    638g 6g heavier 71mm 13mm thinner
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A6000
    Compare
    344g 288g lighter 45mm 39mm thinner

    Weather Sealing

    Sony A550 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top DSLR Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Sony A550 Lens Mount and Lenses

    Sony A550 has a Sony/Minolta Alpha lens mount and currently there are 143 native lenses available for this mount. Sony took over all the Minolta AF lens legacy and extended it with lot of new lenses, some popular ones designed by Zeiss engineers. User can also choose from a wide selection of third party lens manufacturers portfolio.

    A550 also has a Sensor based Image Stabilization system which means that all of these lenses will be stabilized when used on A550. Sensor based image stabilization is one of the most useful features that you can have in an ILC.

    Weather Sealed Lenses for Sony A550

    There are 16 lenses with weather sealing for Sony A550 but bear in mind that A550 body doesn't have weather sealings.

    Here are some of the most popular Sony A550 Lenses on Camera Decision:

    Popular Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount Lenses for Sony A550
    Model Focal Length equiv. Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
    Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM C Lens Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM C
    225-900mm 35mm FF 1930gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II Lens Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II
    105-450mm 35mm FF 750gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony 28-75mm F2.8 SAM Lens Sony 28-75mm F2.8 SAM
    42-112.5mm 35mm FF 565gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony 75-300mm F4.5-5.6 Lens Sony 75-300mm F4.5-5.6
    112.5-450mm 35mm FF 460gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM Lens Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM
    82.5-300mm APS-C / DX 305gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM Lens Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM
    75mm APS-C / DX 170gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD
    225-900mm 35mm FF 1951gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM Lens Sony DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM
    27-82.5mm APS-C / DX 210gr AF Amazon B&H Photo

    Check our Sony A550 Lenses page for more detailed lens search.

    Sony A550 Sensor and Photography Features

    Sony A550 has a 14.0MP APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Bionz processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4592 x 3056 pixels with aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9. A550 has a native ISO range of 200 - 12800 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Sony A550 is not the highest resolution APS-C camera. Canon M6 MII with its 33.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Sony A550 vs Canon M6 MII or take a look at Highest resolution DSLR cameras list.

    Sony A550 DxOMark Sensor Scores

    DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Sony A550 sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 66 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Sony A550 here.

    Let's look at how the size of the Sony A550's APS-C sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Sony A550 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Sony A550 Sensor Size with other standard sensors



    Sony A550 LCD and Viewfinder

    Sony A550 has a Tilting 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 922k dots. Tilting screens are more photography oriented while Fully articulated screens are highly preferred by videographers. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.



    Sony A550 back view and LCD

    Unfortunately Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best DSLR Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.


    A550 has a built-in Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder, making it easier to shoot in direct sunlight and in other situations where it might be difficult to view the LCD monitor. The viewfinder has a coverage of 95% and a magnification ratio of 0.53x. 95% coverage means that what you see in your viewfinder while shooting will slightly be different from the actual image.

    Sony A550 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    You can connect A550 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

    Sony A550 Battery

    Sony A550 is powered by NP-FM500H battery which provides a battery life of 480 shots according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of DSLR type cameras is 948 shots, Sony A550 has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend A550 owners to invest in some extra batteries.

    Battery Life Comparison in Entry-Level DSLR Cameras

    Sony A550
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Pentax K-x with its 1900shots is the model with longest battery life among Entry-Level DSLR cameras. Check the comparison of Sony A550 vs Pentax K-x or take a look at Longest Battery Life DSLR cameras list.

    Sony A550 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A580
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 1050shots No No No
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A55
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 380shots No No No
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A700
    Compare
    None shots No No No
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A350
    Compare
    None shots No No No
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A58
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 690shots No No No
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A57
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 550shots No No No
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A100
    Compare
    None shots No No No
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Sony A6000
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 360shots Yes No Yes

    Sony A550 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Sony A550 can shoot continuously at max speed of 7 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

    Flash

    A550 has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

    Focusing

    Sony A550 features a Phase Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.

    Sony A550 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    What type of Photography is Sony A550 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Sony A550 in 5 different photography areas.

    Sony A550 for Portrait Photography

    Sony A550 has a score of 66 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Portrait Photography list.
    Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
    Image Stabilization
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Good Ergonomics&Handling
    Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP

    Read the details of how we scored Sony A550 for Portrait Photography

    Sony A550 for Street Photography

    Sony A550 has a score of 85 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Tilting LCD Screen
    Image Stabilization
    Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
    Large Body

    Read the details of how we scored Sony A550 for Street Photography

    Sony A550 for Sports Photography

    Sony A550 has a score of 77 for Sports Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Sports Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Sports Photography list.
    Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
    Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
    Good Ergonomics&Handling
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Image Stabilization
    Environmental Sealings
    9 Focus Points

    Read the details of how we scored Sony A550 for Sports Photography

    Sony A550 for Daily Photography

    Sony A550 has a score of 67 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
    Large Body
    632g
    Body Thickness 84mm

    Read the details of how we scored Sony A550 for Daily Photography

    Sony A550 for Landscape Photography

    Sony A550 has a score of 39 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top DSLR Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theA550.
    Live-view
    Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
    Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
    No Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Sony A550 for Landscape Photography
    Sony A550 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Sony A550 compares with other DSLR cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Sony A550 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Sony A550

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Sony A550 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Sony A580
    Sony A580
    Compare
    Sony A55
    Sony A55
    Compare
    Sony A700
    Sony A700
    Compare
    Sony A350
    Sony A350
    Compare
    Sony A58
    Sony A58
    Compare
    Sony A57
    Sony A57
    Compare
    Sony A100
    Sony A100
    Compare
    Sony A6000
    Sony A6000
    Compare

    Sony A550 Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Sony A550 with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Sony A550's price range.

    Olympus E-M1
    Olympus E-M1
    Compare
    Fujifilm X-T100
    Fujifilm X-T100
    Compare
    Panasonic GX7
    Panasonic GX7
    Compare
    Olympus E-M10 II
    Olympus E-M10 II
    Compare
    Panasonic GH3
    Panasonic GH3
    Compare
    Olympus E-P5
    Olympus E-P5
    Compare
    Olympus E-M10
    Olympus E-M10
    Compare
    Fujifilm X-T10
    Fujifilm X-T10
    Compare

    Sony A550 Conclusion and Scores

    Currently, Sony A550 has an Overall Score of 60/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 is ranked #101 out of 208 in DSLR cameras (Top 20 DSLR), and ranked #298 out of 1242 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

    #298 out of 1242 in Top Ranking Cameras
    #101 out of 208 in Top Ranking DSLR Cameras
    #39 out of 81 in Top Ranking Entry-Level DSLR Cameras
    #129 out of 263 in Top Ranking APS-C Sensor Cameras
    #16 out of 32 in Top Ranking Sony Alpha Lens Mount Cameras
    #299 out of 365 in Largest Viewfinder Magnification Cameras (0.53x)
    #68 out of 142 in Lightest DSLR Cameras with APS-C sensor(632g)
    #118 out of 191 in Top Ranking Cameras with Tilting Screen

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Sony A550
    Does the Sony A550 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Sony A550 have RAW support?
    Does the Sony A550 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Sony A550 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Sony A550?
    What is the Sensor Size of Sony A550?
    is the Sony A550 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Sony A550 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Sony A550 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Sony A550?
    What is the Weight of Sony A550?
    What are the Dimensions of Sony A550?
    Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Sony
    Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
    Announced 2009-12-09
    Body Type Compact SLR
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount Sony/Minolta Alpha
    Number of Lenses 143
    Focal Length Multiplier 1.5×
    Macro Focus Range n/a
    Screen
    Screen Type Tilting
    Screen Size 3.00"
    Screen Resolution 922k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror)
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.53x
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 30s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 12.00 m
    Max Flash Sync 1/160s
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score 66
    DxO Color Depth 21.9
    DxO Dynamic Range 11.8
    DxO Low Light ISO 807
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CMOS
    Sensor Size APS-C
    Sensor Dimensions 23.4 x 15.6 mm
    Sensor Area 365.04mm2
    Sensor Resolution 14 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4592 x 3056
    Max Native ISO 12,800
    Min Native ISO 200
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points 9
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Max Video Resolution None
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity None
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 632g
    Physical Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm
    Battery Life 480 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model NP-FM500H
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 10 sec)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
    Storage Slots 1


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