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Samsung CL5 vs Sony a5100

Portability
95
Imaging
32
Features
14
Overall
24
Samsung CL5 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
65
Features
74
Overall
68

Samsung CL5 vs Sony a5100 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
  • Announced February 2009
  • Also Known as PL10
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Replaced the Sony a5000
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Samsung CL5 vs Sony a5100 Overview

Here is a in-depth review of the Samsung CL5 and Sony a5100, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Samsung and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the CL5 (9MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the CL5 (1/2.5") and a5100 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The CL5 was revealed 6 years prior to the a5100 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Samsung CL5 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the CL5 matches up vs the a5100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung CL5 over the Sony a5100

 CL5 a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Samsung CL5

 a5100 CL5 
IntroducedAugust 2014February 2009Fresher by 66 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Samsung CL5 and Sony a5100

 CL5 a5100 
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Samsung CL5 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Samsung CL5 features exterior measurements of 93mm x 60mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.7") and a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Sony a5100 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

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Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the CL5 compared to the a5100.

Samsung CL5 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the CL5 and a5100 is 95 and 89 respectively.

Samsung CL5 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Samsung CL5 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reading through technical specs. The photograph underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the CL5 and a5100.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The CL5 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony a5100 will resolve greater detail because of its extra 15 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older CL5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Samsung CL5 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Samsung CL5 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung CL5 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung CL5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony a5100 Portrait photography highlights
24
offers face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
MP count low (9 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
72
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Samsung CL5 Street photography information
Sony a5100 Street photography information
47
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
82
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
supports focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung CL5 Sports photography highlights
Sony a5100 Sports photography highlights
16
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (9MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
68
megapixel count decent (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery power (400 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Samsung CL5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
MP count low (9 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
80
great battery power (400 CIPA)
supports focus via touch
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung CL5 Landscape photography factors
Sony a5100 Landscape photography factors
22
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (9MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (400 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung CL5 Vlogging info
Sony a5100 Vlogging info
25
offers face detect focus
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of microphone support
34
touch screen
provides face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Samsung CL5 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung CL5 and Sony a5100
 Samsung CL5Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Brand Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung CL5 Sony Alpha a5100
Also called as PL10 -
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-02-23 2014-08-17
Body design Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" APS-C
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 9MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3456 x 2592 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 179
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 38-114mm (3.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-4.5 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Crop factor 6.3 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 16 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 141 gr (0.31 lb) 283 gr (0.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 93 x 60 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.7") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1347
Other
Battery life - 400 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $391 $448