Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 600D vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

Canon EOS 550D

58

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 550D

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
1,040k dots
True resolution
High true resolution
17.9 MP
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
Thin
2.4"
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

32

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 128x97x71 mm
Storage slots
More storage slots
2
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Weight
Light-weight
529 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon 550D

Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 784 ISO vs 535 ISO
Help
The 550D has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture around 80% more detail in your photos
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 162 lenses vs 92 lenses
Help
Around 80% more lenses available
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 66.0 vs 64.0
Help
Almost the same
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.54x vs 0.48x
Help
More than 20% larger viewfinder
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The 550D's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3.7 fps vs 2.5 fps
Help
Around 50% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 128x97x71 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.4" vs 2.8"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Canon EOS 550D Learn more about
the Canon 550D

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A330

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.5x15.7mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 22.4 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A330
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 550D Canon EOS 550D
58 vs 32
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 550D.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Canon 550D or the Sony DSLR-A330,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
by Krishna-Chaitanya last month
Canon 550D vs Sony SLT-A55

Beginner for a DSLR or an entry-level DSLR. Budget is less than 800 US dollars. looking for best...

0
votes
by Rainbow-Albums last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 550D

Beginner. New in photography business. I am going to take professional pictures.

One person recommends the Canon 550D:

" just flip out screen made a bit expensive 600D..otherwise the both camera are same.burst mode is..."

1
votes
by Chris-Harper last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 550D

I'll call myself a beginner but I have video editing training before. I'm really looking for a c...

One person recommends the Canon 600D:

" These two cameras are essentially the same. So you'll do well with either one. However, the 60..."

0
votes
by Wyn-Henderson last month
Canon 600D vs Canon 550D

I am a beginner looking for a camera with a good zoom to capture fast moving subjects

One person recommends the Canon 550D:

"I would save the extra money and invest in a good lens"

0
votes
by CHAPPERS1 last week
Canon 600D vs Canon 550D

HAVE BEEN PHOTOGRAPHING WITH 40D WILL THE EXTRA PIXELS MAKE A GREAT DIFFERENCE ASSUMING MAX A4 S...

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
550D:129x98x62 mm
DSLR-A330:128x97x71 mm
Thickness Thin Help
550D:2.4"
DSLR-A330:2.8"
Weight Light weight Help
550D:530 g
DSLR-A330:529 g
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
550D:3.7 fps
DSLR-A330:2.5 fps
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
550D:6,400 ISO
DSLR-A330:3,200 ISO
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
11.5 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
550D:66.0
DSLR-A330:64.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$863 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $559 body only

$587 - $643 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Weight Is slightly lighter
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon EOS 500D

Canon EOS 500D

Entry-level DSLR

$539 with 18-55mm lens

Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker

Canon EOS 550D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Movie format Lower resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack

Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha DSLR-A230

Sony Alpha DSLR-A230

Entry-level DSLR

$498 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
Size Slightly smaller
Live view No live view
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350

Sony Alpha DSLR-A350

Entry-level DSLR

True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Size Larger
Weight Significantly heavier
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300

Sony Alpha DSLR-A300

Entry-level DSLR

Color depth Better color depth
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Dynamic range Less dynamic range

appearance

Canon EOS 550D Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Canon EOS 550D Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Canon EOS 550D Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

discussion

Showing 0 comments