Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

14.20 Megapixels	Sony Alpha (Minolta A) mount	3.0 inch LCD

Pay Less! $864.37

Basic Specifications
Resolution:	14.20 Megapixels
Kit Lens:	3.00x zoom 18-55mm (27-83mm eq.)
Viewfinder:	Optical / LCD
LCD Size:	3.0 inch
ISO:	200-12800
Shutter:	30-1/4000
Max Aperture:	3.5
Mem Type:	MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / SDHC
Battery:	Custom LiIon
Dimensions:	5.4 x 4.1 x 3.3 in. (137 x 104 x 84 mm)
Weight:	32.2 oz (912 g) includes batteries, kit lens
MSRP:	$1,050
Availability:	10/2009

Test Summary (Mouse over items for explanations)
Power-on Time	0.5 sec
Shutter Lag, Full Autofocus	0.184 sec
Shutter Lag, Prefocused	0.074 sec
Shot to Shot time	0.41 sec
Continuous Speed	6.67 fps (15 shots)
Best Macro	2.36x1.57 in 60x40mm
Viewfinder accuracy (Optical)	95%
Viewfinder accuracy (LCD)	92%
Distortion (Wide Angle)	1.1%
Distortion (Telephoto)	-0.1%
Battery Life (CIPA standard)	950 shots

Sony A550
Hands-On Preview

Earlier this year, Sony introduced three SLRs that were really minor upgrades to their predecessors, which were announced in 2008. In late August 2009, Sony is announcing two digital SLR cameras with more advanced features, aimed at enthusiast photographers.

The Sony A550 and A500 are very similar, so both Hands-on Previews will seem quite familiar. Indeed, the only major differences between the two cameras are that the A550 has a higher resolution sensor, a higher resolution LCD, a faster maximum frame rate, greater buffer depth, a shorter battery life, and weighs just 0.07 ounces (two grams) more.

Both offer some features that are unique in the market, and both include improvements in sensor and processor design that Sony says will deliver better high ISO image quality. One unique feature is Auto HDR, where the camera captures two images and merges them into one High Dynamic Range image.

Both also have articulating display screens and Live View mode. Sony's Live View mode is also unusual, because it uses a secondary sensor inside the pentamirror that doesn't interfere with the A550's autofocus system, unlike other digital SLR designs. However, because it's hard to confirm focus on Sony's usual Live View mode, they've now added a Manual Focus Check mode that raises the mirror and exposes the imaging sensor, allowing you to check and adjust focus at will in a more traditional live view style.

The Sony Alpha A550 will be available from October 2009, priced at US$950 body-only or US$1,050 inclusive of an 18-55mm kit lens.

Look and feel. Compared to this year's earlier cameras, the A230, A330, and A380, the A550 is bigger, thicker, and heavier. While the A380 weighs 17.2 ounces (489g) the A550 weighs in at 1 pound 5.1 ounces (599g). That's not bad as most SLRs go, but that plus its thicker body does make it feel a little chunky.

Like this year's consumer models, the Alpha 550 has a duo-tone body, with a gunmetal gray top deck and a black rubber and plastic body. The shiny black strip on the front of the grip is not a touch sensor, as has been seen on previous Alpha cameras, but it's just an accent that also conceals the infrared sensor.

The Sony A550's grip is a little odd. It's a little slim left to right, and not really deep enough. This impression is increased by the unusual thickness of the body front to back. We really didn't find it very comfortable for long hand-holding. Here you see the switch for Live View, in the same location as past models. New to the A500-series is the MF Check LV button, which puts the camera in Live View mode from the main imaging sensor, rather than the secondary sensor.

Dynamic Range, Drive mode, and ISO settings can also be adjusted on the top deck. Note the sloped area between the top and back, making operation a little easier from more angles.

The back view is similar to the A350, except that the four buttons that lined the left side of the LCD are now moved to the upper left and lower right of the Sony A550's back. The Super SteadyShot switch is no longer present, that mode relegated to a menu item.

A rubber thumbpad adds grip to the rear of the camera, and the Function (Fn) button is handy for quick settings changes.

The tilting LCD mechanism is gifted with a little more angular mobility than we've seen in other Alphas, now able to tilt a full 90 degrees downward, especially helpful when shooting overhead, or when shooting on a tripod in vertical mode. A small sensor on the lower right of the Sony A550's LCD can be set to dim or brighten the LCD's backlight automatically when needed.

Image Sensor. At the heart of the Sony A550 is a Sony Exmor CMOS image sensor with dimensions of 23.4 x 15.6mm, roughly equivalent to a frame of APS-C film. The Sony A550's sensor has an effective resolution of 14.2 megapixels, and yields 3:2 aspect ratio images with dimensions of up to 4,592 x 3,056 pixels. In addition to two lower-resolution 3:2 modes of 3,344 x 2,224 and 2,288 x 1,520 pixels, the Sony A550 offers three modes that crop the sensor's output to a 16:9 aspect ratio, suitable for viewing on wide-screen HDTVs. The Sony A550's 16:9 image modes are 4,592 x 2,576, 3,344 x 1,872, and 2,288 x 1,280 pixels respectively.

DRO. The Sony A550 also includes Sony's optional D-Range Optimizer function, which works from a single shot and hence isn't limited to static subjects. A function of Sony's BIONZ processor, D-Range Optimizer can function automatically or in one of five manual strength levels, and adjusts the tone curve to avoid blown highlights and blocked shadows.

Creative Styles. The Sony A550's Creative Style function offers six pre-defined creative image styles, which adjust image tonality, saturation, and contrast. Creative Style modes include Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, and B&W, and these can be fine-tuned to the user's preferences.

Help. The Sony A550 also includes Sony's in-camera Help Guide function, which helps less experienced photographers understand the complexities of controlling and setting up their camera.

Formats. The Sony A550 can store images as Sony ARW 2.1-format Raw or EXIF 2.2-compliant JPEG files, and is able to save each image in both formats simultaneously. Both sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces are available.

Ports. The Sony A550 includes an HDMI Type-C mini connector which allows display of images on high-definition displays (though no cable is included), as well as USB 2.0 High-Speed computer connectivity. Composite video output is not provided. There's also a DC input jack, for use with an optional AC adapter.

Images are stored on Secure Digital cards including the higher-capacity SDHC types, or on Sony's own Memory Stick PRO Duo, or PRO-HG Duo cards. A small switch is used to select the active card.

Power is supplied by a proprietary Sony InfoLithium NP-FM500H lithium-ion rechargeable battery. Battery life to CIPA testing standards is rated as 950 shots when using the optical viewfinder, or 480 shots in Live View mode. A battery grip is also available for both the A500 and A550, pictured at right.

Variable top speeds. Burst shooting is possible at five frames per second when using the optical viewfinder, or four frames per second when in Live View mode. A Speed Priority burst mode locks exposure and focus from the first frame, which allows an impressive seven frames per second when using either the viewfinder or Live View mode. Burst depth is limited to approximately 14 Raw, 32 Fine JPEG, or 116 Standard JPEG images, or seven images when simultaneously shooting in Raw+JPEG mode.

Brief Shooter's Report

Sony's new A550 and A500 have a few impressive features, and a more imposing presence. Though they're technically not that big, they're thick front to back, and as a result feel rather bulky. Like the smaller A230, A300, and A350, the A550 and A500 feel less substantial as well, rather than the solid feel I'm used to from higher-end digital SLRs.

The grips on the Sony A550 and A500 are better than the consumer line, but still a little small left to right, making for a less comfortable hold. If you're shooting from a camera strap, you won't notice, but if you carry your camera more often by the grip, it can get a little uncomfortable to carry so much weight with such a small grip.

Sony's Eye-start AF ensures that the view is nearly in focus by the time you get your eye to the A550's viewfinder, and the Live View mode is as fast as your finger on the shutter button. While the Live View AF indicator boxes light up a bright green, their optical viewfinder counterparts don't shine red very brightly, and the borders of each box are so thin that they're tough to distinguish against a complicated background. AF seems very fast in either mode. It is indeed nice to have a live view without any difference in autofocus speed, and Sony SLRs are the only place you can find this kind of system.

The LCD on the A550 is noticeably better than the Sony A500's. It's easy to see why 921,600 dots would resolve better than 230,400. The Sony A500's screen is by no means unusable, just not as gorgeous, and it's a lot easier to judge focus on the A550's VGA screen. Both LCDs are reasonably usable in bright sunlight; good enough for composing images.