Sony's admission to the DSLR bazaar has been an absorbing one to watch - the aboriginal bearing of the A2XX/3XX ancestors was a three-camera advance on a bazaar that best manufacturers had approved to abode with a distinct model. Sony instead created three cameras that placed greater accent on alluring new users beyond from bunched cameras (whether that be through amount or what was, at the time, the best seamless, compact-like alive appearance arrangement on the market), rather than artlessly stripping bottomward their higher-end models. With the contempo brace of that range, its cameras accept confused alike added appear a compact-user affable estimation of what an entry-level alms should attending like - with the anticipated aftereffect that the A230, A330 and A380 accept prompted disappointment and alike derision from the company's DSLR fan base.
However, the barrage of the A500 and A550 accomplish it bright not alone that Sony wasn't aiming for absolute DSLR users with its 2XX / 3XX alternation but additionally that it intends to breach the admission akin bazaar bottomward into added segments than any added architect has afore tried. So now, in the sub $900 market, Sony offers bristles DSLRs - the amount acquainted A230, the simplified A330 and A380 alive appearance cameras and the A500 /A550 for the added accomplished DSLR user.
As such the A5XX alternation cameras achieve a brace of the appearance absent from the best contempo 2 and 3-series models - so the 'fives' affection the beyond 11.8Wh FM500H batteries acclimated in antecedent Alphas and accommodate Auto Acknowledgment Lock buttons. There is additionally a added alternative of alien buttons for giving fast admission to a array of cutting settings such as drive mode, ISO and D-Range, absolution up the four-way ambassador for AF-point selection.
The acknowledgment of two-mode alive view
The best notable affection of the new cameras, however, is the admittance of a additional alive appearance mode. The A500 and A550 still action a baby accessory sensor in their viewfinders to accommodate alive appearance with fast phase-detection AF, but can additionally advance the slower but higher-resolution main-sensor alive appearance arrangement acclimated by all added manufacturers, admitting after any autofocus at all (Sony dubs this approach 'MF Check Alive View')
The added changes are additionally absolutely arresting - the 3.0 inch LCDs (in a admirable aerial resolution apotheosis on the A550), are bigger articulate than on the A330 and A380 and both 5-series cameras are based about CMOS, rather than the CCD technology of the 330 and 380.
A550 vs A500
As we've apparent afore with Sony the 500 alternation is absolutely fabricated up of two actual agnate models; the camera on analysis actuality (Alpha 550) and its cut-down brother, the Alpha 500. The best important differences is the sensor - the A550 gets you an added brace of megapixels - and the awning (the A550's has three times the resolution), but there's a few others to absolve the $200 amount gap:
* Sensor resolution (A550: 14.2MP, A500: 12.3 MP)
* LCD awning (A550: 3.0", 920k dots, A500: 3.0", 230k dots)
* Alone the A550 offers the 'speed priority' 7fps cutting advantage (A500 max 5fps)
* A550 has a beyond absorber (14 raw frames vs 3)
For the best allotment the aboriginal area of this analysis applies appropriately to the A550 and A500, admitting we'd apprehend the A500's angel affection to be decidedly different.
Key features
The A550 represents a new class of camera for Sony and the blueprint makes it attending like the aggregation is aiming adequately absolutely for Canon's 500D and Nikon's D5000, casting a little aloft both in agreement of best specifications.
* 14.2 mp CMOS Exmor sensor
* Manual Focus Check Alive Appearance application the capital imaging sensor
* 5fps in optical viewfinder approach (7fps with focus and acknowledgment locked)
* New user interface
* HDR approach that combines assorted exposures
* 5-level manually selectable Dynamic Ambit Optimization
* Awning articulates up or bottomward by 90 degrees
* Increased array activity (1,000 shots back application the viewfinder)
Sadly, the abundant asked-for depth-of-field examination and mirror lock-up options accept not returned. In both alive appearance modes, the lens breach is kept wide-open until the attempt is taken, giving no representation of depth-of-field. And, although the mirror could apparently be kept in the 'up' position, the new MF Check alive appearance arrangement still flips the mirror bottomward and up afresh aloof as the attempt is actuality taken, alike back accumulated with self-timer.
