Samsung HZ50W vs Sony A77

Here, we are evaluating the Samsung HZ50W and Sony A77, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Samsung and Sony. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the HZ50W (14MP) and A77 (24MP) and the HZ50W (1/2.3") and A77 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The HZ50W was manufactured 18 months before the A77 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Samsung HZ50W being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the HZ50W grades versus the A77 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Samsung HZ50W and Sony SLT-A77. The entire galleries are available at Samsung HZ50W Gallery and Sony A77 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Samsung HZ50W features outside dimensions of 116mm x 83mm x 91mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.6") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony A77 has proportions of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") and a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Examine the Samsung HZ50W and Sony A77 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the HZ50W against the A77.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the HZ50W and A77 is 70 and 59 respectively.

Normally, it's tough to see the difference between sensor sizing purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the HZ50W and A77.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The HZ50W because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A77 will deliver greater detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics way more aggressively. The older HZ50W is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.