Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 (Body Only) Reviews: Digital SLR Camera

Photo of Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 (Body Only) Digital Camera

Score 9.0/10 Read 58
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This digital camera is a good all rounder.

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Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 (Body Only): See full product description

Ease of use	8.6
Image quality	9.1
Features	8.9
Build Quality	8.5
Value for money	8.8
Overall rating	9.0

Some customer reviews of Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 (Body Only)

Most helpful reviews

paul, wiltshire Keen amateur

Score 9.0/10

Good points:: shutter speed auto hdr
Bad points:: bit plasticy

Ease of use	8.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	9.0
Build Quality	7.0
Value for money	8.0
Overall rating	9.0

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Confirmed purchase: 31 Jul 2010

Ian, Aberdeen Experienced amateur

Score 8.0/10

Good points:: Very flexible, also easy to use in "simple" mode
Bad points:: Sometimes the complexity of functions can be a disadvantage, in particular in manual mode

Ease of use	7.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	8.0
Build Quality	9.0
Value for money	8.0
Overall rating	8.0

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Confirmed purchase: 30 Nov 2010

harvey, chorley Keen amateur

Score 9.0/10

Good points:: found it easy to use, lots of handy features and i think good image quality.
Bad points:: the pop up flash feels and sounds cheap. i wouldn't mind a bigger body with even more features on board as it has no video, but manufacturers seem to think that everyone wants smaller dslr's.

Ease of use	9.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	9.0
Build Quality	7.0
Value for money	8.0
Overall rating	9.0

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Confirmed purchase: 29 Jun 2010

Ian, Swansea Experienced amateur

Score 9.0/10

Good points:: 7 frames per second, rear screen, Live view,
Bad points:: Cheap looking grey plastic top, No tracking mode, no 100 iso setting

Ease of use	8.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	9.0
Build Quality	8.0
Value for money	9.0
Overall rating	9.0

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Confirmed purchase: 25 Oct 2010

Malcolm, Birmingham uk Experienced amateur

Score 9.0/10

Good points:: Reviewer left no comment
Bad points:: The only problem with this camera is that trying to open the up load covers and shutter release cover, man are they hard to open they was much better on the A350

Ease of use	7.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	9.0
Build Quality	5.0
Value for money	9.0
Overall rating	9.0

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Confirmed purchase: 24 Jan 2011

Anthony, Hinckley, Leics. Experienced amateur

Score 7.0/10

Good points:: Simple to use and fairly quick to adjust.

The live screen is very helpful when using a tripod.
Bad points:: Anti-shake technology is very sluggish and laboured when compared to my A700 dslr. I am almost tempted to switch it off permanently.

Ease of use	6.0
Image quality	8.0
Features	7.0
Build Quality	6.0
Value for money	6.0
Overall rating	7.0

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Confirmed purchase: 16 Feb 2011

Stephen, Dewsbury Experienced amateur

Score 9.0/10

Good points:: Very quick accurate focus in live view, takes my old but good Minolta 7000 lens, great with new sigma 18-125 lens, good battery life, & screen quality. Bought dedicated flash & looking forward to experimenting wireless flash photography. HDR, 2 photo mode works well, getting good detail from shaded areas, if nothing moving in frame. Easy and fun to take good photographs! Very impressed.
Bad points:: 9 focus points, can occasionally miss focus on distant back ground in action shots & no video. Supports SDHC but not SDXC, not a big problem to me - I have several SDHC cards. Ribbon cable to view screen looks vulnerable to damage when compared to my Fujifilm S100FS (Which survived 6ft fall to kitchen floor!). Wireless remote control not included with camera - extra.

Ease of use	9.0
Image quality	9.0
Features	9.0
Build Quality	8.0
Value for money	10.0
Overall rating	9.0

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Confirmed purchase: 01 Aug 2010

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Product Features

Camera Type	SLR
There are 2 main types of camera: The SLR and the Compact. SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. SLR cameras use a prism to reflect the exact image as seen through the lens and so offers a more accurate viewfinder. SLR cameras have detachable lenses offering greater flexibility if you wish to take a variety of different photographs. Compact cameras have a built in lens and an ‘above lens’ viewfinder which is less accurate but they are often cheaper, more sleekly designed and easier to carry anywhere with you to capture that moment perfectly without having to fiddle with complex settings or a bag full of lenses.
Resolution (Megapixels)	14.2

Screen size (Inches)	3
Screen size is measured diagonally from corner to corner.
Type of image stabiliser	Optical Image Stabiliser
If a photo is taken at a slow shutter speed, or at a long focal length, the effects of ‘hand shake’ will be amplified. Some cameras come with built-in image stabilisation which is designed to act against this to produce sharper images. It’s great for low light shots without a tripod, like at a gig.
Touchscreen	No
Touchscreen technology allows you to move and click things directly on the screen using your finger or a stylus pen.
3D	No

Colour	Black
The main colour of the product.
Media format	SDHC Card
This is the type of storage that your digital camera or camcorder uses to save images to. The main types of card media format: Compact Flash Micro SD MMC (Multi Media Card) SD Card (Secure Digital) SDHC (Secure Disk High Capacity)
Media format	SD Card
This is the type of storage that your digital camera or camcorder uses to save images to. The main types of card media format: Compact Flash Micro SD MMC (Multi Media Card) SD Card (Secure Digital) SDHC (Secure Disk High Capacity)
Media format	Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo
This is the type of storage that your digital camera or camcorder uses to save images to. The main types of card media format: Compact Flash Micro SD MMC (Multi Media Card) SD Card (Secure Digital) SDHC (Secure Disk High Capacity)
PictBridge	Yes
An industry standard allowing images to be printed from camera to printer, without needing a computer. CIPA PictBridge Standard Website
Video recorder	Yes
Video recording functionality allows the capture of videos in mpeg or avi format which is great if you want to capture a whole scene, not just one moment.
Manual Focus	Yes
Almost all modern cameras have autofocus. Manual focus allows you to override the autofocus and set the distance yourself. This is especially useful if your camera is struggling to focus in a low-light or confusing scene.
Weight (g)	599
The weight of the product in grams.
Flash	Yes
Whether or not your camera has an in-built flash. Flashes are essential for fully capturing a low light image.
Body Only	Yes
dSLR cameras have detachable lenses and are sold in a variety of combinations. This facet lets you know whether the package your are considering comes bundled with a lens or whether it is just the body of the camera.
WiFi	No
Wifi allows you to connect your device to wireless routers or modems which allows you to connect to broadband internet.
Shortest shutter speed (Fractions of a second)	1/1
This is the fastest speed at which the camera can take a photo. Faster shutter speeds really freeze the action and are great for sports photography.
Longest shutter speed (Fractions of a second)	1/30
This is the longest exposure your camera will take. The longer you take a photo for, the more light is let in and the more motion is captured. Long shutter speeds can give fantastic, artistic results. Try photographing the night sky at 30s or longer to see how the rotation of the Earth causes the stars to curve through the scene.
USB port	Yes
Socket for connecting devices such as a computers and other components.
Dimensions (mm)	137x104x84
The size of the device in millimetres, in width x height x depth.
RAW Format	Yes
GPS Receiver	No

Release date	2009-09-17
The date the product was originally made available for purchase.
Height in mm	104

Width in mm	137

Depth in mm	84

Serial Shot Mode	Yes
Bluetooth	No
Bluetooth is a technology for the wireless transfer of data such as contacts, photos and music between mobile phones, computers and a host of other Bluetooth enabled devices. Read more about Bluetooth on Wikipedia
Autofocus	Yes
Changeable Lens	Yes

Also known as: Sony DSLR-A550 Body Only

Digital Cameras Buyers' Guide

Manufacturer's Description

Amazing quality and creative features with ultra-rapid responses.

More info at Sony's website

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Here’s a list of the questions other shoppers have asked owners of the Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 (Body Only)

i am interested in camera but is it good camera! is it best one than any! let me know thanks . i would like to buy it but not rush then

andrea asked on 24 Jul 2010
1. Its an excellent camera;the build quality is not on the same level as equivelant Nikons or Canons but its a good performer with the best live view on the market and for the price ,its excellent value.
  I also use Nikon D90 but if I had to choose between the two,I would choose the Sony. Its all a matter of personal preference and I just love my Sony Alphas;I also have the 350 which I just do not want to part with!
  Like I say,its all down to personal preference, there are no bad products from the major manufacturers!
  
  Vincent replied on 24 Jul 2010
2. andrea,the 550 is a first class enthusiast camera with a simple menu,very easy to understand options and takes superb images, even more so with steady shot/
  i hope this info helps but if you need any further help please do not hesitate to contact me,regards,ken
  
  kenneth replied on 25 Jul 2010
where was the camera made

fajir asked on 15 Sep 2010
1. hi,cannot say about any other a550 but mine was made in japan,
  hope this helps,
  regards,
  ken
  
  kenneth replied on 16 Sep 2010
2. Thailand
  
  Howard replied on 16 Sep 2010
Is there a view finder grid facility for leveling horizons etc.

Alan asked on 31 Dec 2010
1. i am afraid the answer to your question is no.
  regards,
  ken
  
  kenneth replied on 01 Jan 2011
2. Yes,but its very feint and difficult to see;however they are not really necessary anyway and i manage perfectly well without it.
  
  Vincent replied on 01 Jan 2011
i already have sony alpha 300 , why should i upgrade to sony a550 ?

SARBJIT asked on 10 Aug 2011
1. It depends what you want from your camera. Aside from the obvious increase in resolution, the autofocus engine in the 550 is faster and more advanced than the 300/350 and certainly in my case was infinitely more accurate. The 550 is much better at handling high ISO noise than the 300/350 and the higher frame rate is great for action photography. I am still delighted with this camera. For weddings, the better autofocus and massively improved noise control have been a Godsend. It has already taken over 40,000 frames so far and in a few weeks I will be testing it to the limits in Africa, where I expect to shoot another 30,000 frames in three weeks.
  
  Howard replied on 11 Aug 2011
2. Only you can answer that;what cannot you do with the 300 that you would like to do?
  
  Vincent replied on 11 Aug 2011
3. i must agree with vincent on this,if you are happy with your 300 dont change,but you will always wonder what you missed//
  
  kenneth replied on 12 Aug 2011

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Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 (Body Only) Reviews: Digital SLR Camera

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