• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 14.2 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 12,800
  • APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 14.8 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
  • Sigma SD1 Merrill
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Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor:    
General
Model Number: DSLR-A550 SD1 Merrill
Alternate Model Number(s):   SD1
Camera Format: SLR Pro SLR
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $1049.99 $2299.00
Street Price: $859.40 $8,492.13
Date Available: 2009-10-08 2011-06-01
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 32.2 oz (912 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
28.1 oz (796 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.4 x 4.1 x 3.3 in.
(137 x 104 x 84 mm)
5.7 x 4.5 x 3.1 in.
(146 x 114 x 80 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony Foveon X3
Effective Megapixels: 14.2 14.8
Sensor Format: APS-C APS-C
Sensor size: 369.72mm2 (23.7mm x 15.6mm) 368.95mm2 (23.50mm x 15.70mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.16 microns 5.00 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2, 16:9 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG Full Color
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Not needed
Self-Cleaning: Yes No
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 66  
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 21.9  
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 11.8  
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 807  
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4592 x 3056 (14.0 MP, 3:2),
4592 x 2576 (11.8 MP, 16:9),
3344 x 2224 (7.4 MP, 3:2),
3344 x 1872 (6.3 MP, Other),
2288 x 1520 (3.5 MP, Other),
2288 x 1280 (2.9 MP, Other)
4704 x 3136 (14.8 MP, 3:2),
3264 x 2176 (7.1 MP, 3:2),
2336 x 1568 (3.7 MP, Other)
Image File Format: JPEG, RAW JPEG, RAW (.X3F), RAW + JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 6.7 4.1
Video Capture
Can take movies: No No
Movie Resolution:
Movie File Format:    
Composite Video Out: No Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: n/a Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a No
HD Video Out: Yes No
HD Video Connection: HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Sony Alpha (Minolta A) Sigma SA bayonet
Lens: Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DT SAM Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 27 - 83mm 26 - 75mm
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 55mm 17 - 50mm
Zoom Ratio: 3.00x 2.90x
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - 22 (W), f/5.6 - ?? (T) f/2.8 - f/22 (W/T)
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:   28 cm to Infinity
11.0 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 55.0mm 77.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No Yes
Digital Zoom: No No
Digital Zoom Values: n/a n/a
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 9-point TTL phase detection (one cross-type sensor) with eye-start AF; Wide, Spot, Local modes Phase-detection with 11-point Twin Cross AF Sensor; Single AF, Continuous AF (with AF motion prediction function), Manual
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD Optical / LCD (playback only)
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.80x mag., 19mm eyepoint, -2.5 to +1.0 diopter SLR type; Pentaprism, 98% coverage, 0.95x magnification, 18mm eyepoint, -3 to +1.5 diopter
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.53x 0.63x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.80x 0.95x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 921,600 dots 460,000 dots
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: Yes No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No
Selfie Screen: No
Max Playback Zoom: 14.0x  
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 12800 6400
Minimum ISO (native): 200 100
ISO Settings: Auto (200-1600), 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom Auto, Daylight, Shade, Overcast, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash and Custom
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 30 sec 1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 40-segment Multi Segment, Center-weighted, Spot; (1200 zone evaluative metering in Live View) 77-segment Evaluative, Center-Weighted Average, Center Area, Spot Metering; EV 1 to 20 (50mm F1.4 : ISO100)
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, Sunset, Night Portrait/Night View  
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2 or 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, Fill-flash, Rear sync, Wireless, High-Speed sync, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction: On/Off S-TTL (17mm lens angle covered)
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 12.0 m / 39.4 ft. 11.0 m / 36.1 ft.
Flash Range Description: Lens dependent Lens aperture dependent.
Max Flash Sync: 1/160 1/180
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot shoe Hot Shoe, PC Sync socket
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: Full TTL exposure  
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC CF1
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW RAW (.X3F), RAW + JPEG
Movie File Format:    
Included Memory:   No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes No
DPOF Compliant: Yes No
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional Wireless or Wired Optional RS-31 IR Wireless, CR-21 Wired
Connections (extended): DC input, mini-HDMI, Wired Remote Wired Remote, DC Input jacks
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.41 0.78
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.41 0.78
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 19 7
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No Yes
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 6.7 4.1
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 15 7
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.18 seconds 0.38 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.178 seconds 0.244 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.22 seconds 0.52 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.074 seconds 0.088 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Quick AF Live View shutter lag: 0.188s Full Autofocus Lag: Auto Area AF = 0.466s
Startup Time: 0.5 seconds 4.5 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.4 seconds 0.5 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 3.5 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):    
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 950 shots  
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary NP-FM500H Proprietary BP-21
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NP-FM500H 1 x Proprietary BP-21 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software: Software/USB Driver CD-ROM Sigma Photo Pro 5.0
OS Compatibility: Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Mac OS X (v. 10.13+)  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Exmore CMOS Sensor, Variable-angle LCD, SteadyShot In-body Sensor-shift Image Stabilization, Live View, Auto HDR, D-Range Optimizer (Auto, Level 1-5), HDMI Output, 7 fps (AF/AE Locked). 46-megapixel 23.5 x 15.7mm APS-C full-color sensor, weather-resistant magnesium alloy body, dual "TRUE II" image processing engines, 11-point Twin Cross AF sensor, CompactFlash Type 1 with UDMA support.