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Samsung PL200 vs Sony a1

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
22
Overall
31
Samsung PL200 front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85

Samsung PL200 vs Sony a1 Key Specs

Samsung PL200
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-217mm (F3.3-5.5) lens
  • 170g - 100 x 60 x 21mm
  • Released July 2010
Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Increase to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Launched January 2021
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Samsung PL200 vs Sony a1 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Samsung PL200 and Sony a1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the PL200 (14MP) and a1 (50MP) and the PL200 (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The PL200 was manufactured 11 years earlier than the a1 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Samsung PL200 being a Compact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the PL200 matches up vs the a1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung PL200 over the Sony a1

 PL200 a1 

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Samsung PL200

 a1 PL200 
LaunchedJanuary 2021July 2010Fresher by 128 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k230kSharper display (+1210k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Samsung PL200 and Sony a1

 PL200 a1 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Samsung PL200 vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and volume. The Samsung PL200 comes with exterior measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.8") having a weight of 170 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Sony a1 has sizing of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

See the Samsung PL200 and Sony a1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the PL200 and the a1.

Samsung PL200 vs Sony a1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the PL200 and a1 is 94 and 61 respectively.

Samsung PL200 vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Samsung PL200 vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizing purely by researching technical specs. The photograph here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the PL200 and a1.

As you can tell, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The PL200 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony a1 will result in more detail due to its extra 36MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older PL200 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Samsung PL200 vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Samsung PL200 vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung PL200 vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung PL200 Portrait photography features
Sony a1 Portrait photography features
28
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
88
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/400 seconds)
MP count high (50MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Samsung PL200 as a Street photography camera
Sony a1 as a Street photography camera
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
79
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
comes with focus via touch
environment proofing
very good ISO range (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Samsung PL200 Sports photography highlights
Sony a1 Sports photography highlights
38
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
90
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (30.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count high (50 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
good battery (530 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Samsung PL200 Travel photography advice
Sony a1 Travel photography advice
58
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
73
good battery (530 per charge)
environment proofing
supports bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
MP count high (50MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung PL200
Landscape photography with Sony a1
37
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
88
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count high (50MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
very good ISO range (32,000)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
good battery (530 shots)
has double storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung PL200 Vlogging details
Sony a1 Vlogging details
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic port
36
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (7680 x 4320 resolution)
does have external mic port
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Samsung PL200 vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung PL200 and Sony a1
 Samsung PL200Sony Alpha a1
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model Samsung PL200 Sony Alpha a1
Category Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Released 2010-07-21 2021-01-26
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 50 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 8640 x 5760
Maximum native ISO 3200 32000
Maximum boosted ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 759
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 31-217mm (7.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.5 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 133
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 9,437k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.9x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 30.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.60 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/400 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 800 x 592 (20 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps) 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 7680x4320
Video file format H.264 XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 170 grams (0.37 lbs) 737 grams (1.62 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 60 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.8") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 530 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model BP70A NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC'/MMC, Internal Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Storage slots Single Dual
Launch cost $0 $6,498