Samsung PL170 vs Sony a5100

The following is a in-depth analysis of the Samsung PL170 and Sony a5100, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Samsung and Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the PL170 (16MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the PL170 (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The PL170 was launched 4 years before the a5100 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Samsung PL170 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the PL170 grades versus the a5100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Samsung PL170 & Sony Alpha a5100. The complete galleries are provided at Samsung PL170 Gallery & Sony a5100 Gallery.

For those who are intending to travel with your camera, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Samsung PL170 features outer dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has proportions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

See the Samsung PL170 and Sony a5100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the PL170 vs the a5100.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the PL170 and a5100 is 99 and 89 respectively.

Often, it can be hard to see the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by seeing specs. The image underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the PL170 and a5100.

All in all, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The PL170 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Sony a5100 will provide greater detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged PL170 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.