Samsung PL120 vs Sony A500

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Samsung PL120 versus Sony A500, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. The image resolution of the PL120 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very comparable but the PL120 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The PL120 was brought out 17 months after the A500 making them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Samsung PL120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the PL120 matches up against the A500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Samsung PL120 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The entire galleries are viewable at Samsung PL120 Gallery and Sony A500 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Samsung PL120 features outer measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs) while the Sony A500 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Samsung PL120 versus Sony A500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the PL120 compared to the A500.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the PL120 and A500 is 99 and 63 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizes purely by going through a spec sheet. The image here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the PL120 and A500.

As you can see, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The PL120 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Samsung PL120 will produce extra detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The newer PL120 is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.