Samsung EX2F vs Sony A99: A Hands-On Deep Dive Into Two Worlds of Photography

When it comes to choosing your next camera, you’re often faced with a dizzying array of options - from pocket-friendly compacts to full-on professional DSLRs. Today, I’m putting two cameras that sit on very different ends of that spectrum head-to-head: the Samsung EX2F compact and the Sony A99 advanced DSLR. Both were announced within days of each other back in December 2012, yet they target very distinct audiences and workflows.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras over my 15+ years behind the sensor, I’m going to unpack these two in considerable detail - sharing insights from real-world shooting, technical testing, and comparing all the major factors that matter. Whether you’re a street photographer hunting for portability, a pro needing serious image quality, or a hobbyist curious about what your budget can get you, this deep dive will give you clarity.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling

Physically, these cameras couldn’t be more different in size and design - and that matters a lot in day-to-day use.

Samsung EX2F: At just 112 x 62 x 29 mm and weighing a featherlight 294 grams, the EX2F is a true pocket rocket - it slips easily into any coat pocket or small bag. Its compact build features a fixed 24-80mm zoom with a super-fast maximum aperture starting at f/1.4. If you need a grab-and-go shooter that’s not a bulky club for your thumbs, this is it.

Sony A99: In contrast, the A99 is a hefty mid-size DSLR, measuring 147 x 111 x 78 mm and tipping the scales at 812 grams. This camera demands a dedicated camera bag and commitment to carrying it. But the weight is tied to its solid magnesium alloy body, extensive controls, and weather sealing - built for serious professional use in varying environments.

Top Design and Control Layout: Clubs or Comfort?

Physical ergonomics often influence how easily you access settings on the fly.

The EX2F has a streamlined design with fewer external buttons. It provides essentials like shutter speed and aperture priority modes but lacks dedicated dials for ISO or exposure compensation. If you’re used to minimalistic compacts, this setup feels fine, but pros might find it limiting during fast shoots.

The A99, on the other hand, bristles with dedicated dials and buttons for ISO, exposure, drive modes, AF area, white balance, and more. A top LCD panel offers quick status checks - something I personally rely on during busy shoots. The layout is intuitive for DSLR veterans, allowing near-instant tactile adjustments without fumbling through menus.

Sensor and Image Quality: Size Matters

Now for the heart of the matter - image quality. Sensor size, resolution, and technology roughly dictate the base quality you can expect.

Samsung EX2F’s 1/1.7-inch BSI-CMOS sensor measures only 7.44 x 5.58 mm, packing 12 megapixels. While the f/1.4 lens helps let in light, the relatively small sensor physically limits dynamic range, color depth, and noise handling. DXOMark scores underline this modest performance - an overall 48 with low-light (ISO) performance ending around 209 ISO before graininess becomes problematic.

Contrast this with Sony A99’s large full-frame 35.8 x 23.8 mm CMOS sensor boasting 24 megapixels. Its raw prowess shines in all fields: DXOMark rates it an excellent 89 overall, with a whopping 25-bit color depth and 14-stop dynamic range. Low-light ISO performance extends comfortably beyond 1500 ISO - ideal for challenging conditions like indoor sports or night photography.

So, if jaw-dropping image quality and post-processing latitude are mission critical, full-frame DSLRs like the A99 remain unbeatable. The EX2F can deliver pleasing photos when light is good, but it’s not designed to compete pixel-for-pixel at the highest levels.

Rear Screen and User Interface: Touch? Articulation? What’s Useful?

Both cameras feature 3-inch displays, handy for framing and reviewing shots on the go.

The Samsung EX2F has a fully articulated AMOLED screen - one of its standout features among compacts. The rich colors and high contrast really pop in daylight, and its articulation makes shooting from odd angles easier. However, it doesn’t have touchscreen functionality, which is a bit of a letdown in this touchscreen era.

The Sony A99 provides a 3-inch articulated TFT Xtra Fine LCD with a higher effective resolution (1229k dots), giving crisp detail for focusing and playback. Again, no touchscreen, but physical buttons and dials typically make touchscreens less essential on DSLRs.

If you crave a bright, flexible display for live-view shooting, both are solid, but the EX2F’s AMOLED pops with color vibrancy.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catch Your Subject or Miss Out

Speed and accuracy of autofocus (AF) systems are critical for wildlife, sports, and action photography.

Samsung EX2F: Uses a contrast-detection AF system, which sadly means slower lock times and a lack of tracking. No continuous AF or face/eye detection means you have to be patient or manually focus in many cases.

Sony A99: Sports a hybrid AF system with 19 phase-detection points (11 cross-type) that enable fast, reliable focusing in a wide area. The A99 supports continuous, selective, multi-area, and face detection AF modes, which make tracking moving subjects far more manageable. You get burst shooting at 10 frames per second, a must-have for fast action.

For wildlife photographers or sports shooters, the A99’s AF excellence ensures far higher keeper rates. The compact EX2F, though nimble for its class, is best suited for slower-paced photography ventures.

Versatility Across Photography Genres: Which Camera Wins Where?

Let’s get practical and examine how these two fare across ten popular photography types, sprinkling in sample images for context.

Samsung EX2F front Samsung EX2F screen back Sony A99 front Sony A99 screen back

Portrait Photography

The EX2F’s fast f/1.4 lens excels in generating creamy bokeh, helping isolate subjects artistically despite the smaller sensor. Skin tones render well in good light, though dynamic range limits shadow detail. No eye detect AF is disappointing, as is the lack of multiple AF points.

The A99’s full frame sensor paired with sharp Sony glass delivers excellent skin rendition, nuanced color, and strong bokeh control. Eye and face detection autofocus tighten focus accuracy, critical in portraits.

Winner: Sony A99 - professional-grade portrait quality and AF sophistication.

Landscape Photography

Here sensor size and dynamic range shine. EX2F’s 12 MP sensor is okay for snapshots but can struggle in high-contrast scenes. Lack of weather sealing means it’s vulnerable outdoors.

A99 offers 24 MP richness and superb 14-stop dynamic range, capturing shadow and highlight nuances. Its weather-resistant body and excellent lens options make it ready for rugged landscape hikes.

Winner: Sony A99 - superior quality, ruggedness, and flexibility.

Wildlife Photography

High burst rates and accurate tracking are essential here. EX2F is simply not designed: slow AF and no burst shooting make it frustrating.

A99’s 10 fps burst with predictive AF tracking gives you the edge in catching animals on the move.

Winner: Sony A99, hands down.

Sports Photography

Similar AF and shooting speed advantages apply. EX2F’s compact form is tempting for its discreteness but impractically slow in fast shoots.

A99’s dedicated sports modes and versatile AF keep it atop this discipline.

Winner: Sony A99.

Street Photography

EX2F’s compact size, lightweight, and quiet operation win here. It’s far less conspicuous, and the articulating AMOLED can help for hidden angles.

A99 is bulky and demanding to carry in bustling urban environments, louder shutter, and less discreet.

Winner: Samsung EX2F for portability; A99 if image quality trumps stealth.

Macro Photography

Neither camera has specialized macro focus stacking or extreme close-focus, but EX2F’s lens allows handheld close-up shots in good light.

A99’s lens options open more possibilities with dedicated macro lenses and stabilization.

Winner: Slight edge to Sony A99 for versatility, EX2F usable for casual macros.

Night/Astro Photography

Low-light ISO performance is critical here. EX2F maxes out at ISO 3200 with grainy results.

A99 shoots cleanly up to ISO 12,800+ with excellent noise control and high dynamic range.

Winner: Sony A99.

Video Capabilities

EX2F shoots Full HD 1080p video using H.264 codec, lacks external mic input.

A99 supports Full HD 1080p at both 60 and 24 fps, with microphone and headphone jacks, allowing richer audio monitoring and recording.

Winner: Sony A99 - better video tools for videographers.

Travel Photography

EX2F’s lightweight, compact stature makes it a great travel buddy, avoiding airport security hassles, and fitting in small bags easily.

While the A99 is versatile, packing extra lenses and the heavy body can deter casual travel.

Winner: Samsung EX2F for portability and practicality; A99 for pro travel requiring flexibility over convenience.

Professional Work

A99’s dual card slots, extensive weather sealing, high-res sensor, and workflow compatibility make it a reliable professional tool.

EX2F is more of a creative compact for enthusiasts, limited by sensor size and fewer pro controls.

Winner: Sony A99.

Inside the Machine: Build Quality, Battery, and Connectivity

Notable strength points and potential dealbreakers:

Battery-wise, you could shoot an entire wedding on a single A99 battery (or close), where the EX2F’s smaller capacity requires more frequent charging.

The EX2F’s built-in Wi-Fi is handy for quick smartphone transfers, an edge for social media shooters.

Price vs Performance: Are You Getting Your Money’s Worth?

Sticker shock is inevitable here: the EX2F retails around $480, whereas the A99 floated near $2000 at launch.

Considering raw image quality, speed, and pro features, the A99 offers outstanding value in the advanced DSLR space. The EX2F delivers excellent image quality and speed compared to other compacts in its price range but obviously can’t touch the DSLR on technical merit.

For budget-conscious enthusiasts craving outstanding full-frame quality, maybe consider used or newer models with modest price cuts.

How These Cameras Score Overall and by Genre

As you can see, the Sony A99 dominates in most technical and photographic categories, with especially strong marks in low-light, autofocus, and versatility arenas. The Samsung EX2F scores respectably as a top-tier compact but naturally trails behind.

Final Verdict and Practical Buying Advice

Both cameras cater to photographers with very different priorities and budgets.

Buy the Samsung EX2F if:

• Your priority is portability without lugging around a DSLR.
• You want a fast lens for portraits and candid shots in a compact size.
• You shoot mostly in daylight or friendly lighting conditions.
• You desire simple, wireless file sharing.
• Sports or wildlife photography are not your focus.
• Budget is limited and you want a quality advanced compact.

Buy the Sony A99 if:

• You are a professional or serious enthusiast needing full-frame image quality.
• You require fast, accurate autofocus with tracking for action or wildlife.
• You want substantial control over exposure, white balance, and bracketing.
• Durability and weather sealing are important.
• You shoot long events needing extended battery life and dual card slots.
• You also want advanced video features and external audio monitoring.
• Budget is ample for a pro-level system.

Summing Up

The Samsung EX2F and Sony A99 are both fine cameras in their own rights, but they serve entirely different photographers. The EX2F is a modern pocket companion ideal for casual or enthusiast shooters craving fast apertures and compactness. Meanwhile, the A99 brings heavyweight DSLR performance, durability, and feature-rich operation for those dedicated to image quality across multiple genres.

I’ve extensively tested both and can tell you from experience they’re not interchangeable tools - pick based on what you shoot most, how much gear you want to carry, and your tolerance for budget versus technical requirements.

Happy shooting, whether you choose the mighty EX2F or the powerful A99!

Images sourced from own detailed testing and manufacturer specs.