Sony a550 vs Nikon Z9

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a550 and Nikon Z9. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Sony a550 is manufacturered by Sony but Nikon Z9 is from Nikon. Both Sony and Nikon are well known brands though.

Type of camera

Sony a550 is a DSLR camera while Nikon Z9 is a Mirrorless camera. More information about their differences will come soon.

Sensors / crop factor

These cameras have different sensors. Sony a550 has a "Sony APS-C"-sensor while Nikon Z9 has a "Nikon FX"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

** 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 (Nikon)

Resolution

Sony a550 has a 14 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Nikon Z9 has 46 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Nikon Z9 has a 224 % 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

Nikon Z9 has a larger ISO-range than Sony a550. Nikon Z9 has an ISO range that stretches from 32 to 102400 while Sony a550 has 200 to 12800.

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 Nikon Z9

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 Nikon Z9 can shoot up to 30 pictures per seconds.

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 Nikon Z9. 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.

Nikon Z9 weighs 1340 gr (equal to 2.95 lb) which is 112% heavier than Sony a550 and its 632 gr (or 1.39 lb).

Sony a550 vs Nikon Z9 Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a550 and Nikon Z9, 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	Nikon Z9
Name	Sony a550	Nikon Z9
Manufacturer	Sony	Nikon
Release Date and Price	Sony a550	Nikon Z9
Release Year	2009	2021
Release Date	2009-08-27	2021-10-28
MSRP	949 USD	5500 USD
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Camera Type	Sony a550	Nikon Z9
Camera Type	DSLR	Mirrorless
Sensor	Sony a550	Nikon Z9
Sensor Size	APS-C (approx 23.5 x 15.6 mm)	Full Frame (approx 36 x 23.9 mm) Also known as "FX"
Sensor Type	CMOS	Full Stacked CMOS
Resolution	4592 x 3056 pixels	8256 x 5504 pixels
Megapixels	14 MP	46 MP
Image Processor	Bionz	EXPEED 7
Image	Sony a550	Nikon Z9
ISO Range	200 - 12800	32 - 102400
White Balance Presets	6	9
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	Yes (Sensor-Shift)	Yes (Sensor Shift (Synchro VR with selected lenses))
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	6 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW
Optics & Focus	Sony a550	Nikon Z9
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous Face Detection LiveView	Phase Detect Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Tracking Single Continuous Touch Face Detection LiveView
Focus Points	9	493
Lens Mount	Sony A See Compatible Lenses	Nikon Z 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	FX (Full frame) No multiplier Example: 24 mm remains 24 mm 50 mm remains 50 mm 100 mm remains 100 mm 200 mm remains 200 mm
Screen & Viewfinder	Sony a550	Nikon Z9
Articulated LCD	Tilting	Tilting
Screen size	3”	3.2”
Screen dots	921600	2088960
Touch screen	No	Yes
Screen type	N/A	TFT LCD
Live view	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder Type	Optical (pentamirror)	Electronic
Viewfinder Coverage	95%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.8× (0.53× 35mm equiv.)	0.8x
Viewfinder Resolution	N/A	3686400
Photography features	Sony a550	Nikon Z9
Frames per second	7 fps	30 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	900 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/4000 seconds	1/32000 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 Highlight Weighted Spot
Exposure Compensation	+/- 2 (at 1/3 EV steps)	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Videography features	Sony a550	Nikon Z9
Video recording	No	Yes
Video format	N/A	H.264 H.265
Video resolution	N/A	1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160 7680 x 4320
Built-in Microphone	No	Yes
Built-in Speakers	No	Yes
Storage	Sony a550	Nikon Z9
Memory Card	Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC	Compact Flash Express XQD
Connectivity	Sony a550	Nikon Z9
HDMI Output	Yes	Yes
Microphone Port	No	Yes
Headphone Port	No	Yes
Wireless	No	Yes Built-in (IEEE 802.11b/g/n/a/ac/Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy)
Remote Control	Yes (Wired or Wireless (Optional))	Yes (Via app)
GPS	No	Yes Built-in (GPS, GLONASS, QZSS)
Body & Dimensions	Sony a550	Nikon Z9
Enviromentally sealed	No	Yes
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	Lithium-Ion NP-FM500H rechargeable battery & charger	EN-EL18d (backwards compatible with EN-EL18/a/b/c batteries)
Battery Life (CIPA)	480 shots	740 shots
Width	137 mm	149 mm
Height	104 mm	150 mm
Depth	84 mm	91 mm
Weight	632 gram	1340 gram