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Samsung SL30 vs Sony a1

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
14
Overall
25
Samsung SL30 front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
82
Features
93
Overall
86

Samsung SL30 vs Sony a1 Key Specs

Samsung SL30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 140g - 94 x 61 x 23mm
  • Released February 2009
  • Additionally Known as ES15
Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Boost 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
  • Revealed January 2021
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Samsung SL30 vs Sony a1 Overview

Below is a thorough comparison of the Samsung SL30 and Sony a1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Samsung and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the SL30 (10MP) and a1 (50MP) and the SL30 (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The SL30 was manufactured 13 years prior to the a1 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Samsung SL30 being a Compact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the SL30 matches up vs the a1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung SL30 over the Sony a1

 SL30 a1 

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Samsung SL30

 a1 SL30 
RevealedJanuary 2021February 2009More recent by 145 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1440k230kSharper screen (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Samsung SL30 and Sony a1

 SL30 a1 
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Samsung SL30 vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Samsung SL30 has external dimensions of 94mm x 61mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Sony a1 has specifications of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Examine the Samsung SL30 and Sony a1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the SL30 and the a1.

Samsung SL30 vs Sony a1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SL30 and a1 is 95 and 61 respectively.

Samsung SL30 vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Samsung SL30 vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements merely by viewing specs. The photograph underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SL30 and a1.

All in all, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SL30 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony a1 will result in more detail due to its extra 40 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older SL30 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Samsung SL30 vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Samsung SL30 vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung SL30 vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung SL30 Portrait photography information
Sony a1 Portrait photography information
25
features face detection focus
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
89
manual focus
high flash sync (1/400 seconds)
resolution is great (50 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung SL30 as a Street photography camera
Sony a1 as a Street photography camera
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
79
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
provides focus by touch
weather sealing
above average high ISO (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Samsung SL30 Sports photography details
Sony a1 Sports photography details
16
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
91
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
high max fps (30.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is great (50MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
better than average battery life (530 CIPA)
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Samsung SL30 Travel photography highlights
Sony a1 Travel photography highlights
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
74
better than average battery life (530 per charge)
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
provides focus by touch
resolution is great (50MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Samsung SL30 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony a1 as a Landscape photography camera
22
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no manual control
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
88
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is great (50MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
above average high ISO (32,000)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
better than average battery life (530 per charge)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung SL30 Vlogging info
Sony a1 Vlogging info
25
features face detection focus
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external mic support
37
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
good video quality (7680 x 4320 resolution)
does have external microphone socket
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Samsung SL30 vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung SL30 and Sony a1
 Samsung SL30Sony Alpha a1
General Information
Make Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung SL30 Sony Alpha a1
Also Known as ES15 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Released 2009-02-17 2021-01-26
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 50MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 8640 x 5760
Highest native ISO 1600 32000
Highest enhanced ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 759
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 38-114mm (3.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.7 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 133
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 9,437 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.9x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/8000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter rate - 30.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.60 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Auto & Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Fill-in Flash, Flash Off, Red-Eye Fix Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/400s
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)
Highest video resolution 640x480 7680x4320
Video format Motion JPEG XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 140 gr (0.31 pounds) 737 gr (1.62 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 61 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 530 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Card slots One Two
Price at release $93 $6,498