Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 vs Samsung DV300F

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      Overview

      In this comparison, we will evaluate the Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 and the Samsung DV300F, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 was introduced in December 2009 and Samsung DV300F was introduced in January 2012. Let us first list highlights of the models.

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Highlights

      • 14.2 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
      • 200 - 12,800 Native ISO
      • 9 Focus Points
      • Image Stabilization
      • 3.0" 922k dot Tilting Screen
      • Optical (pentamirror) Viewfinder
      • 7.0 fps Continuous Shooting
      • Built-in Flash

      Samsung DV300F Highlights

      • 16 MP 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
      • 80 - 3,200 Native ISO
      • Image Stabilization
      • 3.0" 460k dot Fixed Screen
      • 1280 x 720 Video Shooting
      • Built-in Flash
      • Built-In Wi-Fi

      Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

      Pros and Cons

      In this section we present pros and cons of Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 and Samsung DV300F.

      PROS

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Built-in Flash
      •   HDMI Output
      •   Orientation Sensor
      •   Video Capture
      •   80 Lowest Native ISO
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Built-in Flash
      •   Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   Light - 133 g (0.29 lb / 4.69 oz)
      •   Orientation Sensor

      CONS

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      •   No Video Capture
      •   Low Resolution Sensor - 14.2 Megapixel
      •   200 Lowest Native ISO
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   9 Focus Points
      •   No Built-in Microphone
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 480 shots
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
      •   No HDMI Output
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      •   No Environmental Sealing


      And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

      AVERAGE

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      •   12,800 Highest Native ISO
      •   Tilting Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 922k dot
      •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 7.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/160 sec
      •   DxO Overall Score - 66
      •   Weight - 632 g (1.39 lb / 22.29 oz)
      •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"

      Advantage of Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 over Samsung DV300F.

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 vs Samsung DV300F
      Larger Sensor APS-C vs 1/2.3-inch
      RAW Support vs
      Selective Autofocus vs
      Single Autofocus vs
      Continuous Autofocus vs
      Live View Autofocus vs
      Phase Detection for Autofocus vs
      Screen Type Tilting vs Fixed
      Higher Resolution Screen 922k dot vs 460k dot
      Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) vs
      Lower Min Shutter Speed 30 sec vs 16 sec
      Higher Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) 1/4000 sec vs 1/2000 sec
      External Flash Connectivity vs
      Manual Exposure Mode vs
      Aperture Priority vs
      Shutter Priority vs
      HDMI Output vs

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Sony Alpha DSLR-A550.

      Advantage of Samsung DV300F

      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Samsung DV300F over Sony Alpha DSLR-A550.

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 vs Samsung DV300F
      Video Capture vs
      Higher Sensor Resolution 14.2 Megapixel vs 16 Megapixel
      Lower Native ISO 200 vs 80
      Higher Native ISO 12,800 vs 3,200
      Max Image Resolution 4592 x 3056 vs 4608 x 3456
      Center Autofocus vs
      Tracking Autofocus vs
      Contrast Detection for Autofocus vs
      Built-in Microphone vs Mono
      Built-In Wi-Fi vs
      Lighter 632 g (1.39 lb / 22.29 oz) vs 133 g (0.29 lb / 4.69 oz)

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Samsung DV300F.

      Common Strengths and Weaknesses

      We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

      STRENGTHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Samsung DV300F
        Face Detection
        Image StabilizationSensor Shift
        Built-in Flash
        Orientation Sensor
      WEAKNESSES Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Samsung DV300F
        Timelapse Recording
        No Microphone Input
        No Headphone Output
        No Built-in GPS
        No Built-In Bluetooth
        No Environmental Sealing

      Screen and Viewfinder

      Screen

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 and Samsung DV300F have 3.0" screens with 922k dot and 460k dot resolutions respectively. Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 has a Tilting screen which makes it very useful for photography purposes but not so useful for video shooting. Samsung DV300F has a Fixed screen

      Image cannot be displayed

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 with Tilting screen


      Optical (pentamirror) Viewfinder on Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 has a built-in Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder. It has a 95% coverage and 0.80x (0.53x 35mm equivalent) magnification. There is no built-in or optional viewfinder available on Samsung DV300F.

      Sensor

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 features a 14.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.4 x 15.6 mm and a total area of 365 mm2. Its native ISO range is 200 - 12,800. Samsung DV300F features a 16 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 6.17 x 4.55 mm and a total area of 20.7 mm2. Its native ISO range is 80 - 3,200.

      Photography Features

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 is equipped with BIONZ processor and can take pictures up to 4592 x 3056 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 4592 x 2576, 3344 x 2224, 3344 x 1872, 2288 x 1520, 2288 x 1280 with 3:2, 16:9 aspect ratios. Samsung DV300F can take pictures up to 4608 x 3456 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 4608 x 3072, 4608 x 2592, 3648 x 2736, 2592 x 1944, 1984 x 1488, 1920 x 1080, 1024 x 768 with 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 aspect ratios.


      Image Stabilization

      The cameras have a built-in image stabilization. On Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 it means that you are still getting vibration reduction when it is paired with non-image stabilizied lenses. It also works with lenses with optical image stabilization and in combination can achieve even better compensation.

      Connectivity, Battery and Storage

      Built-in Wi-Fi on Samsung DV300F

      Samsung DV300F has a built-in Wi-Fi which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
        Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.


      USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

      Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer. connector for video signal output.


      Battery

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 comes with NP-FM500H battery pack with battery life of 480 shots and Samsung DV300F comes with BP88 battery pack.


      External Storage Slots

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 has a single SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo card slot. Samsung DV300F has a single MicroSD/MicroSDHC card slot.

      Other Features

      Shutter

      Shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec on Sony Alpha DSLR-A550, and up to 1/2000 sec on Samsung DV300F. Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 can shoot continuously up to 7.0 fps.


      Flash

      Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 12.00 m on Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 and 4.10 m on Samsung DV300F. Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 also accepts external flash. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/160 sec on Sony Alpha DSLR-A550.

      Physical Parameters

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 body has dimensions of 137 x 104 x 84 mm (5.39 x 4.09 x 3.31") and Samsung DV300F body has dimensions of 95 x 57 x 18 mm (3.74 x 2.24 x 0.71"). Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 weighs 632 g (1.39 lb / 22.29 oz) and Samsung DV300F weighs 133 g (0.29 lb / 4.69 oz).

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      137 mm

      104 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      95 mm

      57 mm

      Image cannot be displayed


      104 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      57 mm

      Image cannot be displayed


      84 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      18 mm

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      Size comparisons of Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 and Samsung DV300F

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 and Samsung DV300F for Different Types of Photography

      We give scores to the cameras for six types of photography based on their features and specifications. Let us see how suitable they are for each type of photography.

      Landscape Photography

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      GOOD
      70
      •   Screen Resolution - 922k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      POOR
      49
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing

      Sports Photography

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      GOOD
      70
      •   12,800 Highest Native ISO
      •   9 Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Resolution - 922k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 7.0 fps
      •   Short Battery Life - 480 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      GOOD
      72
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Wildlife Photography

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      AVERAGE
      63
      •   12,800 Highest Native ISO
      •   9 Focus Points
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Resolution - 922k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 7.0 fps
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 480 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      GOOD
      70
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Portrait Photography

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      GOOD
      82
      •   9 Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 922k dot
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/160 sec
      •   Orientation Sensor
      GOOD
      72
      •   Small Sensor
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Street Photography

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      GOOD
      82
      •   9 Focus Points
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Tilting Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 922k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 632 g (1.39 lb / 22.29 oz)
      GOOD
      84
      •   Small Sensor
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 133 g (0.29 lb / 4.69 oz)

      Travel Photography

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      GOOD
      80
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Tilting Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 922k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 632 g (1.39 lb / 22.29 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 480 shots
      EXCELLENT
      88
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 133 g (0.29 lb / 4.69 oz)

      Evaluations

      We evaluate Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 and Samsung DV300F and give them scores of 61 and 56 out of 100 recpectively. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      OVERALL
      61
      OVERALL
      56

      Sensor

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      AVERAGE
      68
      •   Low Resolution Sensor - 14.2 Megapixel
      •   200 Lowest Native ISO
      •   12,800 Highest Native ISO
      •   DxO Overall Score - 66
      POOR
      47
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
      •   80 Lowest Native ISO
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO

      Photo

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      GOOD
      71
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 7.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/160 sec
      AVERAGE
      64
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
      •   No External Flash Connectivity

      Video

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      BAD
      0
      •   Image Stabilization
      POOR
      43
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720

      Focusing

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      GOOD
      75
      •   9 Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      AVERAGE
      65
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection

      Screen and Viewfinder

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      GOOD
      74
      •   Tilting Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 922k dot
      POOR
      53
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder

      Connectivity

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      AVERAGE
      57
      •   HDMI Output
      •   No Built-in Microphone
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      AVERAGE
      62
      •   No HDMI Output
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth

      Battery, Storage and Physical

      Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

      Samsung DV300F

      POOR
      40
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 632 g (1.39 lb / 22.29 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 480 shots
      AVERAGE
      55
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 133 g (0.29 lb / 4.69 oz)


      For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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