Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
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We have collected 5 reviews of the Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. Experts rate Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 7.7/10. Reviewsor.com helps you find reviews, best prices, user reviews of the Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 and Digital cameras.
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Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
With a relatively modest 14.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, the Sony Alpha DSLR-A550's $1,049.99 price tag may seem steep when compared with less-expensive cameras like the Editors' Choice Canon EOS T2i ($899.99, ) or the Nikon D5000 ($729.99, ), but the A550's performance is on a par with a midrange D-SLR, with a 7 fps burst mode and a gorgeous 3-inch tilting LCD. Sony even added a third image sensor dedicated to autofocus, so the camera performs just as well in Live View mode as it does when using the optical viewfinder - no other D-SLR offers comparable autofocus performance. The included 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens is similar to optics packaged with competing models - it can capture excellent images even in low light, thanks to the camera's built-in sensor-shift image stabilization. One significant oversight prevents this camera from nabbing our Editors' Choice award, however: You can't record video with the A550, not even in standard definition. Measuring 4.1 by 5.4 by 3.3 inches (HWD), the mostly black A550's build is both comfortable and stylish, offering a rubberized grip and smart control placement.
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 (with 18-55mm lens)
Sitting in the middle of Sony's somewhat overcrowded dSLR product line, at first glance the Alpha DSLR-A550 seems like a promising competitor around the $1,000 price point. It comes in two kits: a body only version and one with an 18-55mm lens. The A550 has a slightly different and less-expensive sibling, the A500; in addition to the sensor resolution differential between the two, the A550 has a higher resolution LCD--the same one used on the A700 and A900--and a faster burst option. The A550 is heavier and bulkier than its lower-end siblings are--though it's lighter than the competition--but with a much better grip design. Its siblings are about three-quarters height, which feels much less secure than the A550's full-height grip. While it feels solidly built, its plastic housing leaves a cheaper impression than similarly priced models like the 50D did. And even for a midrange dSLR, Sony doesn't make good use of the extra space, with too many buttons and labels unnecessarily crowding the body. For instance, the Smart Teleconverter--digital zoom--doesn't belong on a camera like this, and the D-Range Optimizer doesn't really require a dedicated button.
Product Survey: Digital SLRs and Cameras with Interchangeable Lenses
Our first contact with the Sony Alpha 550 was a little disorienting. As on Sony's early models, (Alpha 100, 200, etc.), the body looks and feels too plasticky compared to the competition. But we won't judge it too harshly, because the surface of the handgrip has a very nice feel, and the grip itself is well designed and handles well, even if it is a little narrow. The interface is standard with various shortcuts including ISO and exposure correction available. The camera is fairly large, however, and the controls located on the top are hard to access when you're using the eye-level viewfinder. An Fn button provides access to a settings screen with the main shooting options. Everything is clear and there's contextual help. The main display (outside of Live View mode) is a little more disorienting. It's aimed at providing simpler access for beginners, but in fact it's a bit daunting – there are graphics, but there are also a lot of figures. Fortunately, it can be turned off and replaced by a more conventional display. The optical viewfinder isn't really the Sony Alpha 550's strong point. It's small, not very bright, and not very convenient if you're wearing glasses, and we didn't use it much... Sony is clearly putting the accent on Live View, and they're right to do so.
Sony Alpha 550 Digital Camera Review
The Sony A550 delivers several exciting and unusual capabilities, including in-camera high dynamic range images that come out very well, and a full-resolution burst mode of nearly 7 shots per second. There is no movie mode, though, and the price is over $1000 with lens. The 14.2-megapixel Sony A550 is available in a kit priced at $1049, which includes Sony's SAL1855 DT 18-55mm lens (equivalent to a 27-83mm on a 35mm camera), or the camera body alone for $949.99. The A550 is nearly identical in most ways to the A500, which is priced $200 lower -- in fact, the two cameras even share the same instruction manual. The major differences are the image resolution, with the A550 at 12.3 megapixels, and the screen resolution, with the A550 boasting a 921,000-dot LCD compared to the more run-of-the-mill 230,000-dot screen on the A500. The Sony A550 was reasonably accurate in reproducing color hues, but routinely produced oversaturated images in every available color mode, which brought down the overall score in this section. We test color accuracy by shooting the X-Rite ColorChecker chart under bright 3000 lux studio illumination in all of the camera's color modes (in this case, these are called Creative Styles, and there are six in all).
Sony DSLR Alpha A550 Review
Houston, our Alpha A550 Review has landed. Speed back a few months ago and I was still suffering from an entry level Alpha hangover. I have to admit here that I was still a tad disappointed with those cameras going into the A550 review, and brought some of that disdain with me. After spending just two days with the new Sony Alpha A550 DSLR however, pretty much most of that negativity went away and a fresh green view on this new camera began to emerge. My time spent with Sony and the A550 was brief initially, and left me with a lot of curiosity and questions as well as a pretty good first impression overall. The Sony Alpha A550 charmed away much of my lack luster feelings and thoughts about the new entry level lineup, yet it was vital for me to spend some real time with the A550 alone, to give it a real thorough evaluation. Read on if you please for futher thoughts on this new DSLR from Sony. Price $950 body only, $1050 with the 18-55mm Kit lens. As usual, the format for this review has changed from past camera reviews based on my spontaneous writing nature that I embrace with each new review that I do.
Prices
| Retailer | Information | Stock | Prices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) | unknown | $499.99 | |
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Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) | unknown | $664.48 | |
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Sony Corp. - Digital Imaging a550 Digital SLR Camera Body, 14.2MP, Black DS... | unknown | $679.95 | |
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Sony DSLR-A550 14.2 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera - Body Only | In stock | $699.88 | |
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Sony Alpha 550 DSLR 14.2 MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) (DSLRA550) | In stock | $699.99 | |
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Sony a550 DSLR Camera Body , 14.2 Megapixel with CMOS Image Sensor, Face De... | unknown | $749.99 | |
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Sony alpha DSLR-A550 Digital SLR Camera | In stock | $749.99 | |
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Sony ?550 DSLR Camera Body DSLRA550 | In stock | $749.99 | |
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Sony Sony DSLR-A550 alpha Digital SLR Camera Two-Lens Outfit w/ SAL1855 DT ... | In stock | $1049.98 | |
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Sony DSLR-A550 alpha Digital SLR Camera Two-Lens Outfit w/ SAL1855 DT 18-55... | In stock | $1049.98 | |
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Sony DSLR-A550 alpha Digital SLR Camera Two-Lens Outfit w/ SAL1855 DT 18-55... | In stock | $1049.98 |
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