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Sony Alpha 7 V vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyAlpha 7 VSonyAlpha DSLR-A550
Overview
ReleasedDecember 2025September 2009
Image and sensor
Camera typeMirrorlessDSLR
Sensor formatFull frameAPS-C
Sensor typePartially stacked Exmor RS CMOSExmor CMOS
Sensor dimensions35.9 × 23.9 mm23.4 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution33 MP14.2 MP
Largest image7008 × 46724592 × 3056
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–51200200–12800
Sensor detailApproximately 35.7 million total pixels; partially stacked full-frame sensor with optical low-pass filter. Sony's up-to-16-stop dynamic-range claim applies to stills with the mechanical shutter, not a review measurement.Approximately 14.6 million total pixels; RGB primary-colour filter, charge protection coating and sensor-shift dust reduction
Image formatsJPEG, HEIF and RAW in Sony ARW 6.0 format; single-image effective resolution is 33 MP, distinct from software composite or enlarged outputJPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; Sony ARW 2.1
ISO detailStandard still-image ISO 100–51200; expanded ISO 50–204800. Movie ISO 100–51200, expandable to 102400.–
Image processorBIONZ XR2 with integrated AI processing functionsBIONZ
Lens and shooting
Lens mountSony E-mountSony A-mount
StabilisationSensor shiftSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst30 fps7 fps
Lens detail–Sony A-mount; operation confirmed with Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses
AutofocusFast Hybrid AF with up to 759 phase-detection points; recognition for humans, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains and aeroplanes, plus automatic subject selection. Maker claims up to 94% frame coverage; AF-S detection down to EV −4 with an F2.0 lens at ISO 100.TTL phase detection with nine points; single, automatic and continuous AF, manual focus, predictive control and Eye-start AF. Face detection and Smile Shutter are available in Quick AF Live View.
ShutterElectronic shutter 1/16000 second to 30 seconds; mechanical shutter 1/8000 second to 30 seconds plus Bulb; full-frame flash sync 1/250 secondElectronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb; flash sync 1/160 second
Burst detailHi+ up to 30 fps electronically with AF/AE tracking and 14-bit RAW, or 10 fps mechanically. Electronic Hi+ is blackout-free; speed depends on lens, card, format and shooting conditions. Pre-capture can retain up to one second before full shutter press. Maker maximum-speed buffer figures include 185 Fine JPEG, 95 RAW or 35 lossless-compressed RAW photographs under its test conditions.Up to 5 fps with optical viewfinder, or 4 fps in live view. Speed-priority shooting reaches 7 fps with focus and exposure locked at the first frame. Normal continuous buffer: approximately 32 Fine JPEG, 14 RAW or seven RAW+JPEG frames, depending on conditions and media.
Stabilisation detailFive-axis sensor shift; maker claims 7.5 stops at the centre and 6.5 at the periphery under CIPA 2024 pitch/yaw/roll conditions with FE 50mm F1.2 GM and long-exposure noise reduction off. Dynamic Active movie mode adds more crop than Active mode.SteadyShot INSIDE sensor shift; Sony claims approximately 2.5–4 stops, depending on lens and conditions.
Flash–Automatic pop-up flash; guide number 12 m at ISO 100; ADI and pre-flash TTL; proprietary Alpha flash shoe
Exposure controls–Program, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual and scene modes; 40-segment honeycomb metering with optical finder, 1,200-zone metering in Quick AF Live View. Auto HDR combines two exposures for JPEG still subjects.
Video
Highest video resolution3840 × 2160 at 120 fps–
Video detailInternal 4K up to 120p NTSC or 100p PAL in APS-C/Super 35 mode; full-frame 4K 60p/50p uses 7K oversampling with 4K Angle of View Priority on. XAVC S and XAVC HS support 10-bit 4:2:2; XAVC S-I 4K reaches 60p/50p. No RAW movie output. USB streaming is separate, up to 4K 30p/25p or Full HD 60p/50p.No movie recording; HDMI supports still-image playback.
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicOptical
Screen size3.2″3″
Screen dots2,095,104921,600
TouchscreenYesNo
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailFour-axis multi-angle TFT; approximately 98° upwards, 40° downwards, 180° sideways and 270° rotation; dots count colour subpixelsXtra Fine LCD tilts 90° up and down. Quick AF Live View uses a dedicated sensor with 90% coverage; Manual Focus Check Live View uses the main sensor with 100% coverage and 7×/14× magnification.
Viewfinder detail0.5-type OLED; 3,686,400 dots; approximately 0.78× magnification; 60 or 120 fps displayPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage and 0.80× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity, −1 m⁻¹.
Connections and design
Wi-FiYes–
BluetoothYes–
Battery life (maker's claim)750 photographs950 photographs
Body weight610 g599 g
Release detailSony Europe's announcement states body availability to purchase from 2 December 2025; Sony Japan specifies 19 December 2025. The Japanese ILCE-7M5M lens kit followed on 10 April 2026 rather than the body's date.Sony Hong Kong specifies September 2009 availability. Sony Japan revised its local sale date to 5 November 2009; that later regional release is not used as the first-sale date. No September sale day is given.
Recording mediaSlot 1 accepts CFexpress 2 Type A or UHS-I/II SD; slot 2 accepts UHS-I/II SDSD, SDHC, Memory Stick PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; card selection uses a manual switch.
PortsFull-size HDMI Type A; two USB-C ports, port 1 at 10Gbps USB 3.2 and port 2 at 480Mbps USB 2.0; 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets; Multi Interface Shoe with digital audioUSB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mini HDMI Type C, remote release terminal and Alpha accessory shoe
Wireless connectionsWi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, including Wi-Fi 6E at 2.4/5/6 GHz where regional rules permit; Bluetooth 5.3; no NFC–
Battery life detailNP-FZ100; maker CIPA claim approximately 750 photographs using the monitor or 630 using the viewfinderNP-FM500H; approximately 950 shots using optical viewfinder or 480 in live view, under CIPA conditions.
ChargingIn-camera USB-C charging and power supply; USB Power Delivery supportedSupplied BC-VM10 battery charger; optional AC-VQ900AM adapter/charger or AC-PW10AM adapter
DimensionsApproximately 130.3 × 96.4 × 82.4 mm maximum; 72.3 mm depth from grip to monitorApproximately 137 × 104 × 84 mm (width × height × depth), excluding projections.
Weight detailApproximately 610 g body only or 695 g with battery and memory card. Photography Blog's narrative mislabels 695 g as excluding battery/card; TechRadar lists 659 g. Main weight follows Sony's exact body-only specification.Approximately 599 g body only, excluding battery, memory card and accessories.
Colours–Black
In the boxNP-FZ100 battery, shoulder strap, body cap, accessory shoe cap and eyepiece cup, according to Sony UK–

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