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Samsung PL120 vs Sony A33

Portability
99
Imaging
37
Features
20
Overall
30
Samsung PL120 front
 
Sony SLT-A33 front
Portability
67
Imaging
54
Features
80
Overall
64

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A33 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 A33
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed August 2010
  • New Model is Sony A35
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Samsung PL120 vs Sony A33 Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Samsung PL120 vs Sony A33, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. The resolution of the PL120 (14MP) and the A33 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the PL120 (1/2.3") and A33 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The PL120 was released 5 months after the A33 so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Samsung PL120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A33 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the PL120 matches up versus the A33 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung PL120 over the Sony A33

 PL120 A33 

Reasons to pick Sony A33 over the Samsung PL120

 A33 PL120 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Samsung PL120 and Sony A33

 PL120 A33 
RevealedJanuary 2011August 2010Similar age
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A33 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Samsung PL120 has got external dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs) and the Sony A33 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Compare the Samsung PL120 vs Sony A33 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the PL120 against the A33.

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A33 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the PL120 and A33 is 99 and 67 respectively.

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A33 top view buttons comparison

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A33 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by checking specs. The image below will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the PL120 and A33.

All in all, the two cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The PL120 includes the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field trickier.

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A33 sensor size comparison

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A33 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung PL120 vs Sony A33 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung PL120 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A33 Portrait photography highlights
28
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung PL120
Street photography with Sony A33
49
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
76
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Samsung PL120 Sports photography features
Sony A33 Sports photography features
26
megapixel count decent (14MP)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
terrible battery life (340 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung PL120 Travel photography advice
Sony A33 Travel photography advice
71
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
great max aperture (f)
missing Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (340 shots)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung PL120
Landscape photography with Sony A33
33
great max aperture (f)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
67
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
terrible battery life (340 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung PL120 Vlogging features
Sony A33 Vlogging features
31
great max aperture (f)
includes external microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
77
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic port
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Samsung PL120 vs Sony A33 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung PL120 and Sony A33
 Samsung PL120Sony SLT-A33
General Information
Brand Samsung Sony
Model Samsung PL120 Sony SLT-A33
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-01-05 2010-08-24
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO - 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range () -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed - 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 - 500g (1.10 lbs)
Physical dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 591
Other
Battery life - 340 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media - SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots - Single
Cost at release $150 $230