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Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7

Portability
99
Imaging
37
Features
20
Overall
30
Samsung PL120 front
 
Sony Alpha A7 front
Portability
78
Imaging
70
Features
80
Overall
74

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7 Key Specs

Samsung PL120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 0 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • ()mm (F) lens
  • n/ag - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2011
Sony A7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Refreshed by Sony A7 II
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Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Samsung and Sony. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the PL120 (14MP) and A7 (24MP) and the PL120 (1/2.3") and A7 (Full frame) come with different sensor sizing.

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The PL120 was announced 4 years prior to the A7 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Samsung PL120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the PL120 grades versus the A7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Samsung PL120 over the Sony A7

 PL120 A7 

Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Samsung PL120

 A7 PL120 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014January 2011Fresher by 37 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1230k230kCrisper screen (+1000k dot)

Common features in the Samsung PL120 and Sony A7

 PL120 A7 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Samsung PL120 provides outer measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") along with a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs) while the Sony A7 has sizing of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs).

Look at the Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the PL120 and the A7.

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the PL120 and A7 is 99 and 78 respectively.

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7 top view buttons comparison

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by looking at specifications. The visual here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the PL120 and A7.

To sum up, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The PL120 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Sony A7 will give greater detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The older PL120 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7 sensor size comparison

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung PL120 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A7 Portrait photography highlights
28
resolution is good (14MP)
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
82
focusing manually
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Samsung PL120 as a Street photography camera
Sony A7 as a Street photography camera
49
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
79
tilting screen
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
lighter than competition in class (474 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung PL120 Sports photography information
Sony A7 Sports photography information
26
resolution is good (14MP)
fixed focal length (()mm)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
66
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery life (340 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung PL120 Travel photography highlights
Sony A7 Travel photography highlights
71
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
great max aperture (f)
no Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition in class (474g)
environment proof
MP count decent (24MP)
not so great battery life (340 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung PL120 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A7 Landscape photography highlights
33
great max aperture (f)
resolution is good (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (()mm)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual control
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse function
75
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery life (340 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung PL120 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A7 as a Vlogging camera
31
great max aperture (f)
includes external microphone support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
35
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic jack
lighter than competition in class (474 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
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Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung PL120 and Sony A7
 Samsung PL120Sony Alpha A7
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model Samsung PL120 Sony Alpha A7
Category Ultracompact Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2011-01-05 2014-01-22
Body design Ultracompact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO - 50
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
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 () -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash options - no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format - 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight - 474g (1.04 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" 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 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots - One
Launch cost $150 $798