Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7
99 Imaging
37 Features
20 Overall
30


78 Imaging
70 Features
80 Overall
74
Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7 Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Samsung PL120 & Sony Alpha A7. The whole galleries are available at Samsung PL120 Gallery & Sony A7 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Samsung PL120 over the Sony A7
PL120 | A7 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Samsung PL120
A7 | PL120 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | January 2014 | ![]() | January 2011 | Fresher by 37 months |
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial accurate focus | ||
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Screen resolution | 1230k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper 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.
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.

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

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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A7 Specifications
Samsung PL120 | Sony 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 |