Canon T1i vs Sony DSLR-A550

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Canon T1i vs Sony DSLR-A550

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APS-C 332.3mm²
15.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Canon T1i Review.
See real-world photos taken with the T1i.

APS-C 369.7mm²
14.2 megapixels
ISO 200 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Sony DSLR-A550 Review.

Succeeded by the Canon T2i
Compare T1i vs T2i
Compare Canon T2i vs Sony DSLR-A550

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Differences

Canon T1i advantages over Sony DSLR-A550

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$900 vs $1050 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Fast startup
~0.30 vs 0.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Thinner
61 mm vs 84 mm
Thinner
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 15 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony DSLR-A550 advantages over Canon T1i

Larger sensor
APS-C vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
DSLR-A550 test data on DxO Mark T1i test data on DxO Mark

807 vs 663 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

950 vs 400 shots
Capture more photos
Faster JPEG shooting
6.7 fps vs 3.4 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Pentaprism viewfinder
Neither provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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Review Excerpt

Read our Canon T1i Full Review

We haven’t reviewed the Sony DSLR-A550.
Read our Sony DSLR-A550 Initial Test

The Competition

Compared to Canon XSi

Canon T1i

Canon XSi

$900
APS-C

Fast startup
HDMI out

$649
APS-C

Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon T1i vs Canon XSi

Sony DSLR-A550

Canon XSi

$859
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$649
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony DSLR-A550 vs Canon XSi

Compared to Sony DSLR-A350

Canon T1i

Sony DSLR-A350

$900
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$900
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon T1i vs Sony DSLR-A350

Sony DSLR-A550

Sony DSLR-A350

$859
APS-C

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

$900
APS-C

Less expensive
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Sony DSLR-A550 vs Sony DSLR-A350

Compared to Canon 50D

Canon T1i

Canon 50D

$900
APS-C

Less expensive
Lighter weight

$1000
APS-C

Larger sensor
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon T1i vs Canon 50D

Sony DSLR-A550

Canon 50D

$859
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1000
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony DSLR-A550 vs Canon 50D

Compared to Pentax K2000

Canon T1i

Pentax K2000

$900
APS-C

HDMI out
More dots on screen

$556
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

Compare Canon T1i vs Pentax K2000

Sony DSLR-A550

Pentax K2000

$859
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
HDMI out

$556
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony DSLR-A550 vs Pentax K2000

Compared to Sony DSLR-A500

Canon T1i

Sony DSLR-A500

$900
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$850
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon T1i vs Sony DSLR-A500

Sony DSLR-A550

Sony DSLR-A500

$859
APS-C

More dots on screen
More pixels

$850
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Sony DSLR-A550 vs Sony DSLR-A500

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