Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 vs Sony Alpha a6100: A Deep Dive into Two Different Worlds of Photography

When it comes to selecting a camera, the gulf between models can feel like crossing a chasm. On one side, we have the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2, a 2014-era compact superzoom that dared to blend advanced smartphone-style controls with fixed-lens camera versatility. On the other, the Sony Alpha a6100, a 2019 mirrorless powerhouse bringing agility, flexible lens choices, and cutting-edge autofocus technology to the table. Both cameras serve photography enthusiasts, but their DNA, target users, and technical profiles couldn’t be more different.

Having tested thousands of cameras over my 15+ years in photography, I’ve watched the evolution from fixed superzooms to fast, mirrorless systems with interchangeable optics. This comparison will boil down how the Galaxy Camera 2 and Sony A6100 stack up head-to-head across disciplines while unpacking their features with a hands-on, expert lens.

Let’s untangle what these two distinct cameras bring to the party - whether you prioritize convenience, image quality, speed, or creative control - to empower your next buy.

Size and Handling: Pocketable Superzoom vs. Compact Mirrorless

Right out of the gate, form factor and handling dynamics paint a vivid picture of these cameras’ philosophies. The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 is a sleek, compact device measuring 133x71x19 mm and weighing 283 g. Its profile is slim enough for casual carry, reminiscent of a chunky smartphone - not surprising as it blossomed from the mobile nexus.

Contrast that with the Sony A6100, a rangefinder-styled mirrorless body that's more substantial at 120x67x59 mm and 396 g. While still highly portable, this extra heft and depth accommodate the interchangeable lens mount, larger sensor, and sturdier grip profiles.

Ergonomically, the Galaxy Camera 2’s touchscreen dominates user interaction. Its minimal physical controls streamline operation for casual photographers but at the cost of tactile precision and speed. The A6100 exhibits a traditional DSLR-like layout with buttons and dials optimized for quick access and manual control, making it comfortable for intensive shooting sessions.

For travelers or walk-around shooters seeking maximum portability with decent zoom reach, the Galaxy Camera 2 fits nicely in the hand and pocket. But for users who want granular handling and an expandable lens system, the Sony A6100’s form is more purposeful and ultimately more versatile.

Viewing and Control Interfaces: Touchscreen vs Hybrid Live View + EVF

The Galaxy Camera 2 sports a large, 4.8-inch HD Super Clear touchscreen - a sprawling interface that feels innate to anyone familiar with smartphones. It’s great for pinch-to-zoom framing and on-the-fly adjustments, but the lack of a viewfinder feels like a glaring omission, especially in bright conditions where LCD visibility often falters.

The Sony a6100, with its 3.0-inch tilting screen pegged at 922k dots, is complemented by a bright OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) boasting 1.44 million dots and 100% coverage, a significant boon for precise composition and shooting comfort. The EVF magnification of 0.71x delivers a crisp window to real-time exposure and autofocus previews, which is invaluable for professionals and enthusiastic amateurs alike.

Sony’s hybrid approach - touchscreen-enabled live view plus an EVF - gives photographers the best of both worlds: natural eye-level framing with tactile buttons and responsive touch controls. This is especially relevant when shooting fast-paced scenarios where glance-and-go is preferable over constantly looking down at the screen.

If you’re the type to cobble together shots rapidly on the street or in direct sunlight, the A6100’s EVF is a decisive advantage. The Galaxy Camera 2 caters more to casual compositions where large screen real estate is king, but it struggles a bit in usability under harsh lighting.

Sensors and Image Quality: Small Sensor Struggles vs APS-C Brilliance

Arguably the most fundamental divergence arises in sensor technology. The Galaxy Camera 2 employs a 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor - measuring just 6.17 x 4.55 mm with a sensor area of 28.07 mm² - capturing 16 megapixels with a fixed anti-aliasing filter. In contrast, the Sony A6100 leverages a significantly larger APS-C sized sensor, 23.5 x 15.6 mm (366.6 mm² area), packing an impressive 24 megapixels with similar anti-alias filtering.

Why is this sensor size gap so consequential? Larger sensors collect more photons per pixel, translating into significantly better low-light sensitivity, dynamic range latitude, and detail resolution. In hands-on tests, the A6100 consistently delivers cleaner images at high ISOs (up to 32000 native, with boosted 51200 ISO), with notably less noise and better highlight recovery.

The Galaxy Camera 2’s sensor maxes out at ISO 3200, with image quality degrading rapidly beyond ISO 800 - largely due to the physics of smaller sensor pixels and more aggressive noise reduction. The fixed lens's modest maximum aperture (f/2.8-5.9) further constrains low-light capabilities.

While the Galaxy Camera 2’s sensor is perfectly adequate for daylight shooting and casual snapshots, it simply can’t compete in sharpness, tonal gradations, or subtle color rendition against the A6100’s APS-C format. For critical landscape, portrait, or night photography, the bigger sensor of the Sony is the clear winner.

Autofocus Mechanisms: Basic Contrast Detection vs Advanced Hybrid AF with Animal Eye Tracking

Autofocus technologies have advanced leaps and bounds in the last decade. The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 relies exclusively on contrast-detection AF with center-weighted metering and rudimentary face detection, generally slower and less precise than modern hybrid or phase detection systems.

The Sony A6100 boasts a sophisticated hybrid autofocus system: 425 phase-detection points covering a wide area, supplemented by contrast detection. This system performs autofocus acquisition in fractions of a second with minimal hunting, allowing precise manual focus overrides as well.

Critically for wildlife, sports, and portrait photographers, the A6100 features real-time Eye AF for humans and animals - a cutting-edge capability that locks focus on eyes with remarkable accuracy. This drastically improves hit rates in dynamic environments, including fast-moving subjects or shallow depth of field scenarios, outperforming the Galaxy Camera 2’s AF entirely.

Fans of wildlife or action photography will appreciate Sony’s continuous AF (up to 11 fps shooting) that maintains sharpness reliably, whereas the Galaxy Camera 2 offers only single autofocus with no continuous tracking or burst mode beyond 5 fps.

Lens Systems and Focal Range: Fixed Superzoom vs Expansive E-Mount Ecosystem

As a fixed-lens superzoom, the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 integrates a built-in 23-483 mm equivalent lens with a 21x zoom range and aperture varying from f/2.8 at wide end to f/5.9 at telephoto. This is convenient for general-purpose shooting, travel snapshots, and wildlife from a distance without changing lenses - no lens mount compatibility or weight to worry about.

Conversely, the Sony A6100 accepts any Sony E-mount lenses, including a vast ecosystem of options from Sony and third-party manufacturers - currently numbering 121 lenses. This ranges from macro-prime lenses to ultra-wide angles and telephoto zooms well beyond 600 mm equivalent, unlocking creative possibilities and optimal optics for every genre.

In practical terms, the Galaxy Camera 2’s zoom suffices for many casual scenarios but suffers softness and vignette issues at extremes. The Sony’s lens flexibility allows for precise optical choices to ensure top sharpness, bokeh control, and specialized optics (e.g., macro, tilt-shift, prime f/1.4).

For photo enthusiasts who want to evolve their toolkit, the Sony system’s expandability is a defining asset. The Galaxy Camera 2 offers all-in-one convenience but with inherent compromises in image quality and artistic control.

Burst and Shutter Performance: Speed Matters for Action

The Galaxy Camera 2 records 5 frames per second (fps) continuous shooting, which is decent for a compact camera launched in 2014 but limited by its AF system that lacks tracking capabilities, restricting its usability for sustained action capture.

The Sony A6100 jumps to 11 fps with full autofocus and exposure tracking enabled, a spec that places it in a class favored by sports and wildlife shooters. Shutter speed ranges also differ: the Galaxy stretches from 1/16 second to 1/2000 second, while the Sony spans from slow 30 seconds up to a brisk 1/4000 second, advantageous for freezing fast action or shooting with wide apertures in bright light.

If your passion lies in fast-moving subjects, events, or street photography requiring split-second reactions, Sony’s shutter and burst system provide a clear edge.

Video Capabilities: HD Limited vs 4K Ready with Professional Features

Video remains a vital consideration. The Galaxy Camera 2 supports Full HD 1080p recording with MPEG-4 and H.264 encoding, utilitarian but standard fare for 2014. It features a built-in microphone port but lacks headphone output for monitoring audio - reasonable for casual video shooters but restricting professional workflows.

Sony’s A6100 pushes into 4K UHD recording at 30p with 100 Mbps bitrate using XAVC S codec, delivering exceptional detail and color depth for filmmakers. It includes advanced video profiles, hybrid AF during video, and external microphone input, though no headphone jack. The tilting screen assists vlogging and dynamic shooting angles.

For serious video creators, the Sony A6100 markedly outclasses the Galaxy Camera 2, which is limited by outdated codec options and resolution.

Battery Life and Storage Solutions: Modest Endurance with Modern Flexibility

Battery-wise, Samsung’s built-in 400-shot capacity is respectable but less than the Sony A6100’s approximately 420 shots per charge - a notable advantage given the A6100’s more demanding sensor and EVF. The Galaxy Camera 2 has a non-removable battery, limiting prolonged shooting flexibility on trips.

Both cameras support popular SD card formats, with Sony additionally accommodating Memory Stick Pro Duo for legacy users. Wireless connectivity on both includes built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, though the Galaxy adds GPS logging, which the Sony lacks.

Durability and Weather Resistance: Neither Body Excels Here

Neither camera offers rugged environmental sealing or weatherproofing, so users shooting outdoors in moisture or dust-prone environments should plan accordingly - camera covers or protective gear are recommended.

Pricing and Value Proposition: Affordable Access vs Mid-tier Investment

At launch and still reflected in current pricing, the Galaxy Camera 2 retails around $399 - a budget-friendly option for those seeking a one-piece zoom camera with smartphone-like features. Meanwhile, the Sony A6100 sits near double that at approximately $748 (body only), reflecting its more advanced technology, versatile system, and superior image quality.

Value depends on user needs: if one desires a simple fixed lens with Wi-Fi and GPS in a compact shell, the Galaxy Camera 2 fits the bill. For the more serious enthusiast or semi-pro photographer desiring future-proofing and better performance, Sony’s A6100 justifies its higher price.

Real-World Photography Performance by Genre

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 screen back Sony A6100 front Sony A6100 screen back

Let’s ground this with practical examples across photography types.

Portraits

The Sony A6100 clearly dominates portraiture with its larger sensor and 425-point AF system featuring real-time human and animal eye detection. Its superior bokeh rendering and color fidelity produce skin tones with lifelike warmth and texture. The Galaxy Camera 2’s fixed-lens and smaller sensor limit background separation and skin tone nuance, resulting in flatter portraits less suited for professional use.

Landscapes

Landscape photographers prize dynamic range and resolution. The A6100’s APS-C sensor manages highlights and shadows with greater finesse, delivering files that withstand heavy post-processing. The Galaxy’s sensor’s tidal contrast reduction and noise visibly limited dynamic range. Weather sealing absent in both bodies means extra caution for outdoor landscape shoots.

Wildlife

Telephoto reach and AF speed are paramount. The Galaxy’s 483 mm equivalent zoom is respectable but coupled with slower contrast-detection AF, it’s ill-suited for sharp, fast-moving critters. The A6100’s optional telephoto lenses and swift hybrid AF with animal eye AF track elusive wildlife much more effectively.

Sports

Sony’s 11 fps continuous shooting with autofocus tracking effortlessly captures peak sporting moments. The Galaxy Camera 2’s 5 fps and basic AF are insufficient for decisively freezing rapid sports action.

Street Photography

The Galaxy Camera 2’s discreet size and touchscreen-only controls can be appealing for candid street snaps, but the lack of a viewfinder sometimes hinders rapid framing in bright urban light. The A6100, although larger, offers silent shutter modes and EVF for inconspicuous shooting, plus rapid AF responsiveness suited to unpredictable street scenes.

Macro

Neither camera shines exceptionally at macro, but Sony’s compatibility with specialized macro lenses and fine AF control gives it the upper hand for extreme close-ups. The Galaxy’s 10 cm minimum focus is decent but limited.

Night / Astro

APS-C sensor technology grants the A6100 superior high-ISO usability and longer exposure control - invaluable for astrophotography and night scenes. The Galaxy Camera 2’s small sensor and ISO ceiling mean noisy, less detailed nighttime shots.

Video

Sony’s 4K capabilities and advanced codecs make it the clear pick for hybrid photo-video shooters, with superior autofocus in video mode. The Galaxy’s Full HD video may suffice for casual users but not prosumers.

Travel

Compact size, fixed zoom, and built-in GPS make the Galaxy Camera 2 a lightweight travel companion for tourists wanting simple point-and-shoot reliability. The A6100’s lens system and slightly larger size require more packing effort but reward with superior image quality and flexibility.

Technical Performance Overview

A summary perspective from testing metrics:

Who Each Camera is Best For: Clear Recommendations

Choose the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 if you:

• Want an all-in-one fixed-lens superzoom with smartphone-like touch operation
• Prefer a lightweight, compact form for casual travel photography
• Are on a strict budget under $500 and want GPS tagging alongside Wi-Fi
• Shoot mostly in good light, favoring snapshots over critical creative control
• Dislike fiddling with lenses or complex controls

Choose the Sony A6100 if you:

• Demand superior image quality with a large APS-C sensor and RAW support
• Require blazing autofocus including real-time eye tracking for humans and animals
• Appreciate expandable lens options, from primes to super telephotos and macros
• Shoot dynamic subjects: sports, wildlife, events, or street photography
• Want 4K video recording with professional-grade features
• Are willing to invest $700+ for a modern, mirrorless camera system with long-term growth

Final Thoughts: Two Cameras, Two Visions of Photography

The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 and the Sony Alpha a6100 are somewhat apples and oranges - yet comparing them illuminates how far camera technology has progressed in a few years. The Galaxy Camera 2 offers an intriguing blend of compactness, zoom range, and mobile-friendly interface suited for casual photography or travelers unwilling to fuss with gear. But it is hamstrung by its dated sensor, sluggish autofocus, and limited video specs.

The Sony A6100 embodies the ongoing ascendancy of mirrorless cameras, packing advanced autofocus, larger sensor image quality, 4K video, and lens flexibility in a compact body. It’s a camera that can keep pace with a growing photographer’s ambitions across nearly every genre, making it the more future-proof investment - at a price.

For enthusiasts serious about quality, speed, and creative potential, Sony’s A6100 wins hands down. Yet for the casual point-and-shooter or budget-minded user who prioritizes simplicity and zoom versatility, the Galaxy Camera 2 still holds appeal.

Ultimately, weighing your personal priorities will reward you with the camera that’s best aligned to your photographic journey.

Thanks for reading this detailed comparison! Feel free to reach out or comment your experiences with either camera. Photographs speak loudest, but the right gear helps amplify your vision.