Samsung SL720 vs Sony A550
94 Imaging
34 Features
14 Overall
26


63 Imaging
53 Features
65 Overall
57
Samsung SL720 vs Sony A550 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 1600
- 640 x 480 video
- 28-102mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
- 168g - 92 x 61 x 23mm
- Announced July 2009
- Also Known as PL70
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
- Introduced December 2009
- Old Model is Sony A100

Samsung SL720 vs Sony A550 Overview
Following is a thorough comparison of the Samsung SL720 and Sony A550, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Samsung and Sony. The image resolution of the SL720 (12MP) and the A550 (14MP) is very close but the SL720 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

The SL720 was revealed 4 months prior to the A550 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Samsung SL720 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a short summary of how the SL720 matches up against the A550 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Samsung SL720 vs Sony A550 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Samsung SL720 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The full galleries are viewable at Samsung SL720 Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Samsung SL720 over the Sony A550
SL720 | A550 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Samsung SL720
A550 | SL720 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial precise focus | ||
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 922k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper display (+692k dot) |
Common features in the Samsung SL720 and Sony A550
SL720 | A550 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | July 2009 | ![]() | December 2009 | Same age |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Lack of Touch display |
Samsung SL720 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Samsung SL720 has physical dimensions of 92mm x 61mm x 23mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") and a weight of 168 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).
Contrast the Samsung SL720 and Sony A550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the SL720 compared to the A550.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SL720 and A550 is 94 and 63 respectively.

Samsung SL720 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it's tough to see the difference in sensor sizes purely by looking through specifications. The image underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SL720 and A550.
To sum up, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SL720 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A550 will render more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images more aggressively.

Samsung SL720 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Samsung SL720 vs Sony A550 Specifications
Samsung SL720 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Samsung | Sony |
Model type | Samsung SL720 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 |
Also referred to as | PL70 | - |
Type | Ultracompact | Entry-Level DSLR |
Announced | 2009-07-14 | 2009-12-09 |
Body design | Ultracompact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 27.7mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 14 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4592 x 3056 |
Maximum native ISO | 1600 | 12800 |
Lowest native ISO | 80 | 200 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens zoom range | 28-102mm (3.6x) | - |
Highest aperture | f/2.8-5.7 | - |
Macro focusing distance | 5cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display size | 2.7" | 3" |
Resolution of display | 230 thousand dot | 922 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 95% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.53x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 8s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/1500s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shutter speed | - | 7.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 4.60 m | 12.00 m |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | - | 1/160s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 800 x 592 (20 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps) | - |
Maximum video resolution | 640x480 | None |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | - |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 168g (0.37 lb) | 632g (1.39 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 92 x 61 x 23mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") | 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | not tested | 66 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 21.9 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 11.8 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 807 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 480 shots |
Type of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | SLB-10A | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | One | One |
Retail cost | $119 | $749 |