Samsung PL200 vs Sony A57

Lets look more closely at the Samsung PL200 versus Sony A57, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. The resolution of the PL200 (14MP) and the A57 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the PL200 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The PL200 was introduced 3 years before the A57 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Samsung PL200 being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a simple overview of how the PL200 grades against the A57 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Samsung PL200 and Sony SLT-A57. The whole galleries are viewable at Samsung PL200 Gallery and Sony A57 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Samsung PL200 offers outside measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.8") having a weight of 170 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Sony A57 has measurements of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Take a look at the Samsung PL200 versus Sony A57 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the PL200 vs the A57.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the PL200 and A57 is 94 and 64 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements just by looking at specifications. The graphic below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the PL200 and A57.

To sum up, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The PL200 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A57 will resolve extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots more aggressively. The older PL200 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.