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Samsung PL120 vs Sony A6500

Portability
99
Imaging
37
Features
20
Overall
30
Samsung PL120 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Samsung PL120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 0 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • ()mm (F) lens
  • n/ag - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Released January 2011
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Introduced October 2016
  • Older Model is Sony A6300
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Samsung PL120 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Here is a comprehensive comparison of the Samsung PL120 versus Sony A6500, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Samsung and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the PL120 (14MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the PL120 (1/2.3") and A6500 (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

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The PL120 was manufactured 6 years prior to the A6500 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Samsung PL120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the PL120 scores vs the A6500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung PL120 over the Sony A6500

 PL120 A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Samsung PL120

 A6500 PL120 
IntroducedOctober 2016January 2011Fresher by 70 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Samsung PL120 and Sony A6500

 PL120 A6500 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Samsung PL120 enjoys 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) and the Sony A6500 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Take a look at the Samsung PL120 versus Sony A6500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the PL120 against the A6500.

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the PL120 and A6500 is 99 and 81 respectively.

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing purely by looking through technical specs. The photograph underneath will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the PL120 and A6500.

As you have seen, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The PL120 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Sony A6500 will render extra detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The older PL120 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung PL120 Portrait photography information
Sony A6500 Portrait photography information
28
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
80
manual focus
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung PL120
Street photography with Sony A6500
49
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
environment proof
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Samsung PL120
Sports photography with Sony A6500
26
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
77
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery pack (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung PL120 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Travel photography camera
71
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
great max aperture (f)
lack of Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
74
environment proof
has bluetooth
includes focus by touch
good MP (24MP)
flash built-in
bad battery pack (350 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung PL120 Landscape photography features
Sony A6500 Landscape photography features
33
great max aperture (f)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
79
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proof
bad battery pack (350 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung PL120
Vlogging with Sony A6500
31
great max aperture (f)
includes external mic support
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
39
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has external mic port
does not have selfie friendly display
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Samsung PL120 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung PL120 and Sony A6500
 Samsung PL120Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model Samsung PL120 Sony Alpha a6500
Class Ultracompact Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2011-01-05 2016-10-06
Body design Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO - 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 425
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range () -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter speed - 11.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings - Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 - 453g (1.00 pounds)
Physical dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 85
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1405
Other
Battery life - 350 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer - Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots - One
Retail pricing $150 $1,298