Sony’s α550 Digital SLR is a 14.2 megapixel camera with a number of built-in features to guarantee sharp and perfectly exposed images.

The Sony Exmor CMOS image sensor is APS-C, or “crop-frame size”. Combined with the BIONZ processor, this sensor enables up to ISO 12,800 to capture low-light pictures with lower noise and reduced loss of picture detail.

A static-free coating on the CMOS filter helps repel dust while Anti-Dust vibration technology works to dislodge dust at camera shutdown to help keep the CMOS imager clean.

The α550’s Face Detection system recognises and adjusts focus, exposure, and white balance for faces. Smile Shutter technology allows you to take the shot automatically when your subject smiles in Live View mode.

Composing a shot in Sony’s Quick Auto Focus Live View is made even easier thanks to the 3-inch, 230,000 pixel, Sony Clear Photo LCD display which tilts up or down 90 degrees to help frame high- and low-angle shots.

The α550 uses the same “phase detection” auto focus for Live View as for the optical viewfinder. For critical focus in macro and tripod shooting, the α550 also offers Manual Focus Check Live View. Along with the 100% view in the LCD, you can focus on fine detail using 7x and 14x zoom views.

Eye-Start Autofocus begins focusing as soon as the camera is raised to your eye, and the 9 point AF sensor with centre cross enables accurate focusing. And for optimised exposures, the camera has 6 creative style settings and 6 scene modes.

The camera will shoot up to 5 frames per second (with optical viewfinder) and at up to 4 frames per second with Quick Auto Focus Live View. It can save images in RAW or JPEG formats (separately or in tandem), with dual media slots files for storage on Memory Stick PRO Duo/Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo and SD/SDHC media cards.

Auto HDR is the α550’s built in implentation of High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography, which combines two exposures into one shot, for greater depth and definition. This boosts the α550’s ability to deal with severe backlighting and other high-contrast scenes.

Dynamic Range Optimizer recovers detail in areas of shadow and improves results with backlit subjects. Normal DRO uses standard gamma curves to improve detail, while Advanced DRO adjusts dynamic range area-by-area for greater accuracy.

SteadyShot INSIDE is Sony’s image stabilisation technology to compensate for camera shake. SteadyShot INSIDE is built into the camera body.

In Quick Auto Focus Live View mode, you can extend the optical zoom of your lens with digital zoom. One touch zooms in at 1.4x while a second touch advances to 2x zoom. The system reproduces pixels on a 1:1 basis so there’s no degradation of picture.

The α550 comes with the following computer software: Image Data Converter SR, Image Data Lightbox SR, and Picture Motion Browser.

The on-screen Help Guide is a ready reference to the camera’s modes and settings and the Graphic Display clarifies the effects of, and relationship between, aperture and shutter speed.
The α550 has an HDMI output and will play back images in high definition when connected to a compatible HDTV. With compatible Sony BRAVIA HDTVs, the BRAVIA Sync system works lets you use the tv’s remote to control camera playback.

You can monitor the remaining battery charge thanks to Sony’s InfoLITHIUM battery system. When fully charged, the Sony Stamina battery gives you up to 1000 shots (optical viewfinder mode) and up to 520 shots (Live View mode).

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SPECIFICATIONS

Resolution
14.2MP

Sensor
APS-C size Exmor CMOS sensor (23.5 X 15.6mm)

Processor
BIONZ image processor

File Formats
RAW
RAW+JPEG
JPEG Fine
JPEG Standard

File Size
Still Actual 16:9 :
L (12MP): 4592 X 2576
M (6.3MP): 3344 X 1872
S (2.9MP): 2288 X 1280
Still Actual 3:2 :
L (14M): 4592 X 3056 M (7.4M): 344 X 2224 S (3.5M): 2288 X 1520

ColoUr Filter
RGB primary coloUr filters

Image Stabilization
SteadyShot INSIDE stabilisation

Focusing Area
Wide (Up to 9 active focus points), Spot, Local (9 local areas selectable)

Focus Type
TTL phase detection system

Number of Focusing Points
9 points

ISO
Auto, 200 to 12800

Focusing Sensitivity Range
EV0 – 18 (ISO100)

Focusing Modes
Manual Focus, Check Live View, Predictive Control, Focus Lock, Eye-Start AF, AF Illuminator

Modes
AF modes : Single-Shot AF, Automatic AF, Continuous AF, (AF/MF selectable)
Drive Mode : Single-Shot, Continuous, Speed Priority, Self-Timer, Bracketing; Cont./ WB, Remote Commander

Tripod Mount
Yes, 1/4″-20

Conveniences

Anti-dust function : Charge protection coating on low pass filter and image-sensor shift mechanism
BRAVIA Sync: Via HDMI with compatible BRAVIA HDTV
Creative Style: Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, B/W Setting Adjustment for: Contrast, Saturation, Sharpness
Dynamic Range Optimizer: DRO; off, Auto/Level (Lv1-5) Auto HDR, Off, Auto Exposure (up to 3EV between 1.0-3.0EV in 0.5EV steps)
Live View : Quick Auto Focus, Live View Manual, Focus Check Live View
Scene Mode(s): Flash Off, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, Night portrait
User Interface: Easy-to-understand Graphic Display and on-screen Help Guide, user-friendly function menu

Lens Mount
Sony Alpha lens, Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lens

Shutter Speeds
Auto, Program Auto (P), Aperture Priority (A), Shutter Priority (S), Manual (M)

Metering
TTL metering w/ 40-segment honeycomb-pattern SPC

Exposure Modes
Flash Off, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, Night Portrait

Scene Modes
Flash Off, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, Night Portrait

White Balance
Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Color Temperature, Color Filter, Custom

Mirror Lock-Up
No

Burst Capability
Up to 7 fps

Remote Control
No

Flash

Effective Flash Range
18mm in focal-length of lens attached

External Flash Connection Optional:
HVL-F58AM External Flash
HVL-F42AM External Flash
HVL-F20AM External Flash

Dedicated Flash System
ADI flash (automatic change for Pre-flash TTL)

Flash Exposure Compensation
±2EV (in 1/3 EV-stop increments)

Guide Number
12 (in metres at ISO100)

Recycling Time
Approx. 4 sec

Memory Card Type
Memory Stick PRO Duo media
SD and SDHC memory card

Viewfinder Type
Fixed eye-level, penta-Dach-mirror

Viewfinder Display
Spherical Acute Matte Screen

Viewfinder Coverage
Field of View : 95%

Viewfinder Magnification
0.80x (with 50mm lens at infinity)

Viewfinder Info
Diopter Adjustment : -2.5 – +1.0m-1
Eye relief : Approx. 19 mm from the eyepiece
Approx. 15 mm from the eyepiece frame at -1 diopter

Display
3″ TFT Clear Photo Plus™ LCD (921,600 pixels)

Display Area
Coverage : 100% (Playback), 90% (Live View)

LCD Information
Angle Adjustment : Yes (upward by up to 90°, downward by up to 90°)
Brightness Control : Auto Brightness Control (Auto setting in 2 steps
Manual setting in 5 steps)

OS Compatibility
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Windows XP SP2
Windows Vista
Mac OS X (v10.1.3) or later

Software Included:
PMB (Picture Motion Browser) 4.3.01
Image Data Converter SR 3.1
Image Data Lightbox SR

Ports
USB2.0 Hi-Speed (mass-storage, PTP)

Operating/Storage Temperature
Operating Temperature : 32 – 104° F (0 – 40 ° C)

Battery Type
Battery Type : NP-FM500H InfoLITHIUM Rechargeable
Approx. 1000 images with viewfinder, 520 images in live view mode

Base Dimensions (WxHxD)
5.39 x 4.09 x 3.31″ (137 X 104 X 84mm) (excluding protrusions)

Weight
Approx. 20.42 oz (597g) (without battery, memory card, accessories )

What’s Included

* Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Camera Body
* NP-FM500H InfoLithium Rechargeable Battery
* BC-VM10 Battery Charger
* USB Cable
* Shoulder Strap
* Eyepiece Cap
* Body Cap
* Accessory Shoe Cap
* Software CD-ROM
* User Guide
* 1 Year Australian Warranty

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