Sony a550 vs Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a550 and Canon EOS 1D Mark IV. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.
Manufacturing
Sony a550 is manufacturered by Sony but Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is from Canon. Both Sony and Canon are well known brands though.
These two camera models were both released 2009.| Camera | Released |
| Sony a550 | 2009 |
| Canon EOS 1D Mark IV | 2009 |
Type of camera
Both these cameras are DSLR cameras. No difference there.
Sensors / crop factor
These cameras have different sensors. Sony a550 has a "Sony APS-C"-sensor while Canon EOS 1D Mark IV has a "Canon APS-H"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.
| Camera | Focal length, 50mm f/1.8 ** |
| Sony a550 | 75 mm Sony APS-C sensor Crop factor/focal length multiplier by * 1.5 |
| Canon EOS 1D Mark IV | 65 mm Canon APS-H sensor Crop factor/focal length multiplier by * 1.3 |
** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"
Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Canon)
Resolution
Sony a550 has a 14 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Canon EOS 1D Mark IV has 16,1 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:
| Camera | Megapixels |
| Sony a550 |
14 MP
14033152 pixels 4592 x 3056 |
| Canon EOS 1D Mark IV |
16,1 MP
15980544 pixels 4896 x 3264 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV has a 14 % larger resolution than Sony a550. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.
ISO range
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV has a larger ISO-range than Sony a550. Canon EOS 1D Mark IV has an ISO range that stretches from 50 to 102400 while Sony a550 has 200 to 12800.
| Camera | ISO Range |
| Sony a550 | 200-12800 |
| Canon EOS 1D Mark IV | 50-102400 |
Autofocus and lens compatibility
Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.
Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a550
Lens compatibility chart for Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
Pictures per second
Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony a550 can shoot up to 7 pictures per seconds and Canon EOS 1D Mark IV can shoot up to 10 pictures per seconds.
| Camera | FPS (Frames per second) |
| Sony a550 | 7 |
| Canon EOS 1D Mark IV | 10 |
Ability to record movies
It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.
It is only one of these two cameras that support recording movies and movie clips and that is Canon EOS 1D Mark IV. Sadly, the Sony a550 does not support this.
Weight
The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV weighs 1230 gr (equal to 2.71 lb) which is 95% heavier than Sony a550 and its 632 gr (or 1.39 lb).
| Camera | Weight |
| Sony a550 | 632 gr 1.39 lb |
| Canon EOS 1D Mark IV | 1230 gr 2.71 lb |
Sony a550 vs Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Specs
Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a550 and Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.
Product |
Sony a550 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV |
| Name | Sony a550 | Canon EOS 1D Mark IV |
| Manufacturer | Sony | Canon |
Release Date and Price |
Sony a550 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV |
| Release Year | 2009 | 2009 |
| Release Date | 2009-08-27 | 2009-10-20 |
| MSRP | 949 USD | 4999 USD |
| Buy it today |
|
|
Camera Type |
Sony a550 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV |
| Camera Type | DSLR | DSLR |
Sensor |
Sony a550 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV |
| Sensor Size | APS-C (approx 23.5 x 15.6 mm) | APS-H (approx 27.9 x 18.6 mm) |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Resolution | 4592 x 3056 pixels | 4896 x 3264 pixels |
| Megapixels | 14 MP | 16,1 MP |
| Image Processor | Bionz | DIGIC 4 |
Image |
Sony a550 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV |
| ISO Range | 200 - 12800 | 50 - 102400 |
| White Balance Presets | 6 | 8 |
| Custom White Balance | Yes | Yes |
| Image Stabilization |
Yes (Sensor-Shift) |
No |
| Image Stabilization CIPA Rating | 0 stops | 0 stops |
| Uncompressed format | RAW | RAW |
Optics & Focus |
Sony a550 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV |
| Autofocus Motor | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus |
Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous Face Detection LiveView |
Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous Face Detection LiveView |
| Focus Points | 9 | 45 |
| Lens Mount |
Sony A See Compatible Lenses |
Canon EF See Compatible Lenses |
| Focal Length Multiplier |
APS-C Sensor (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm |
APS-H Sensor 1.3x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 31 mm 50 mm becomes 65 mm 100 mm becomes 130 mm 200 mm becomes 260 mm |
Screen & Viewfinder |
Sony a550 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV |
| Articulated LCD | Tilting | Fixed |
| Screen size | 3” | 3” |
| Screen dots | 921600 | 920000 |
| Touch screen | No | No |
| Screen type | N/A | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder Type | Optical (pentamirror) | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 95% | 100% |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.8× (0.53× 35mm equiv.) | 0.76× (0.58× 35mm equiv.) |
| Viewfinder Resolution | N/A | N/A |
Photography features |
Sony a550 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV |
| Frames per second | 7 fps | 10 fps |
| Minimum Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
| Built-in Flash | Yes | No |
| Built-in Flash Range | 12 meters | N/A |
| External Flash | Yes | Yes |
| Self-Timer | Yes | Yes |
| Time-lapse | No | Yes |
| Metering modes |
Multi Center Weighted Spot |
Multi Center Weighted Spot |
| Exposure Compensation | +/- 2 (at 1/3 EV steps) | +/- 3 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
Videography features |
Sony a550 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV |
| Video recording | No | Yes |
| Video format | N/A |
H.264 |
| Video resolution | N/A |
1280 x 720 1920 x 1080 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Built-in Speakers | No | No |
Storage |
Sony a550 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV |
| Memory Card |
Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC |
Compact Flash SD/SDHC |
Connectivity |
Sony a550 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV |
| HDMI Output | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Port | No | Yes |
| Headphone Port | No | No |
| Wireless | No |
Yes Optional , Eye-Fi Connected and Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E2
|
| Remote Control | Yes (Wired or Wireless (Optional)) | Yes (N3 connector) |
| GPS | No | No |
Body & Dimensions |
Sony a550 |
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV |
| Enviromentally sealed | No | Yes |
| Battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery Details |
Lithium-Ion NP-FM500H rechargeable battery & charger
|
Lithium-Ion LP-E4 rechargeable battery & charger
|
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 480 shots | 1500 shots |
| Width | 137 mm | 156 mm |
| Height | 104 mm | 157 mm |
| Depth | 84 mm | 80 mm |
| Weight | 632 gram | 1230 gram |