Sony Alpha A550

	Sample Photos Summary
• Nice level of detail in bright and shadowed areas • High dynamic range system effective without calling attention to itself • Digital image processing ramps up at high ISO settings
	White Balance	Page 7 of 17	Playback

Sample Photos

Landscape Sample
				Focal length: 18mm Aperture: f/9 Shutter: 1/320 second ISO: 400 This shot was taken in aperture priority mode using the Landscape Creative Style, with automatic white balance and the dynamic range adjustment system turned off. Click on the image at left to download the full-resolution image in a separate window.
				We like the balanced exposure, with good detail throughout, and without blowing out the blue sky above. There is significant chromatic aberration in the top  corner, though.

HDR Samples
	Focal length: 35mm Aperture: f/9 Shutter: 1/125 sec ISO: 200 Shot with multi exposure metering, the top version was taken with dynamic range adjustment turned off. The middle photo has the high dynamic range function set to Auto, allowing the camera to determine the exposure for the two shots. In the final image, we manually set the exposure difference to the maximum 3 EV.
	HDR Auto The recovered detail in the dark areas is nicely balanced here.
	HDR +3 Ramping up the exposure difference gains even more detail, but has the artificial look we associate with poorly conceived HDR photography.

Signage Sample
				Focal length: 24mm Aperture: f/10 Shutter: 1/250 second ISO: 200 Shot with center-weighted metering in aperture priority mode, with -0.7 EV exposure compensation. Click on the photo at left to download the full-resolution image in a separate window.
				The colors here are oversaturated, particularly that bluer-than-blue sky, but the stitching on the flag and the crazed paint came out well.

Close-up Sample
				Focal length: 55mm Aperture: f/18 Shutter: 1/320 second ISO: 200 Shot in aperture priority mode with the camera handheld, using the Standard Creative Style. Click on the photo at left to download the full-resolution image in a separate window.
				The different textures are captured nicely here, and even in bright daylight the shadowed areas still show some detail.

Low Light Samples
	Focal length: 45mm Aperture: f/9 Shutter: 1/800 ISO:200 We experimented with high ISO settings by shooting this clock face in a very dark room, with indirect light coming through the window on an overcast day, using manual white balance. The effect of digital sharpening is apparent, especially as we reach the highest ISO levels. The full-size image at ISO 1600 can be opened in a separate window by click the photo at left.
	ISO 1600
	ISO 3200
	ISO 6400
	ISO 12800

Still Life Examples

The following still life shots were taken using automatic white balance in aperture priority mode, in each camera's most accurate color mode. Click on a thumbnail image below to open the full-size version in a new window. 

	Still Life Comparisons
	Sony A550	Canon T1i	Nikon D5000	Olympus E-30	Panasonic GF1
ISO 100
ISO 200
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
ISO 6400
ISO 12800

NOTE: The images above are not used in our testing or scoring, but are included here to show real-world examples of the differences between cameras at the various ISO settings.

Noise Examples

This table presents full-size crops taken from still life images shot with each comparison camera, at all available ISOs (including extended range settings where applicable).

	Noise Comparison Table
	Sony A550	Canon T1i	Nikon D5000	Olympus E-30	Panasonic GF1
ISO 100
	Sony A550	Canon T1i	Nikon D5000	Olympus E-30	Panasonic GF1
ISO 200
	Sony A550	Canon T1i	Nikon D5000	Olympus E-30	Panasonic GF1
ISO 400
	Sony A550	Canon T1i	Nikon D5000	Olympus E-30	Panasonic GF1
ISO 800
	Sony A550	Canon T1i	Nikon D5000	Olympus E-30	Panasonic GF1
ISO 1600
	Sony A550	Canon T1i	Nikon D5000	Olympus E-30	Panasonic GF1
ISO 3200
	Sony A550	Canon T1i	Nikon D5000	Olympus E-30	Panasonic GF1
ISO 6400
	Sony A550	Canon T1i	Nikon D5000	Olympus E-30	Panasonic GF1
ISO 12800

NOTE: The images above are not used in our testing or scoring, but are included here to show real-world examples of the differences between cameras at the various ISO settings.