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Samsung CL5 vs Sony A7

Portability
95
Imaging
32
Features
14
Overall
24
Samsung CL5 front
 
Sony Alpha A7 front
Portability
78
Imaging
71
Features
80
Overall
74

Samsung CL5 vs Sony A7 Key Specs

Samsung CL5
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-4.5) lens
  • 141g - 93 x 60 x 19mm
  • Released February 2009
  • Alternate Name is PL10
Sony A7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Renewed by Sony A7 II
Photography Glossary

Samsung CL5 vs Sony A7 Overview

In this article, we are analyzing the Samsung CL5 vs Sony A7, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Samsung and Sony. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the CL5 (9MP) and A7 (24MP) and the CL5 (1/2.5") and A7 (Full frame) possess different sensor sizing.

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The CL5 was launched 5 years prior to the A7 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Samsung CL5 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the CL5 grades versus the A7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung CL5 over the Sony A7

 CL5 A7 

Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Samsung CL5

 A7 CL5 
RevealedJanuary 2014February 2009More recent by 59 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1230k230kClearer display (+1000k dot)

Common features in the Samsung CL5 and Sony A7

 CL5 A7 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Samsung CL5 vs Sony A7 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Samsung CL5 has outer measurements of 93mm x 60mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.7") along with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Sony A7 has proportions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") and a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs).

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Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the CL5 and the A7.

Samsung CL5 vs Sony A7 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the CL5 and A7 is 95 and 78 respectively.

Samsung CL5 vs Sony A7 top view buttons comparison

Samsung CL5 vs Sony A7 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching a spec sheet. The visual here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the CL5 and A7.

Clearly, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The CL5 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A7 will result in extra detail utilizing its extra 15MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The older CL5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Samsung CL5 vs Sony A7 sensor size comparison

Samsung CL5 vs Sony A7 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung CL5 vs Sony A7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung CL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A7 as a Portrait photography camera
24
offers face detection focus
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
MP count low (9MP)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
82
focusing manually
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung CL5
Street photography with Sony A7
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
79
tilting screen
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
lighter than competitors in class (474 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung CL5 Sports photography details
Sony A7 Sports photography details
16
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (9 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
has no phase detect auto focus
66
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
MP count decent (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (340 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung CL5 Travel photography highlights
Sony A7 Travel photography highlights
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
MP count low (9MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than competitors in class (474 grams)
weather sealing
MP count decent (24MP)
not so great battery life (340 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung CL5 Landscape photography info
Sony A7 Landscape photography info
22
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
no image stabilization
MP count low (9MP)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
76
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
MP count decent (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (340 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung CL5 Vlogging highlights
Sony A7 Vlogging highlights
25
offers face detection focus
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external mic support
36
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic jack
lighter than competitors in class (474g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
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Samsung CL5 vs Sony A7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung CL5 and Sony A7
 Samsung CL5Sony Alpha A7
General Information
Manufacturer Samsung Sony
Model Samsung CL5 Sony Alpha A7
Other name PL10 -
Type Ultracompact Pro Mirrorless
Released 2009-02-23 2014-01-22
Body design Ultracompact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 9MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3456 x 2592 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 50
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 117
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 38-114mm (3.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-4.5 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 6.3 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 1,230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 16 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 141 gr (0.31 lbs) 474 gr (1.04 lbs)
Dimensions 93 x 60 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.7") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 90
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.2
DXO Low light score not tested 2248
Other
Battery life - 340 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $391 $798