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Samsung SL820 vs Sony A55

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28
Samsung SL820 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Samsung SL820 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Samsung SL820
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 168g - 95 x 59 x 23mm
  • Launched February 2009
  • Other Name is IT100
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Refreshed by Sony A57
Photography Glossary

Samsung SL820 vs Sony A55 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Samsung SL820 versus Sony A55, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the SL820 (12MP) and A55 (16MP) and the SL820 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The SL820 was released 18 months prior to the A55 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras offer different body type with the Samsung SL820 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SL820 matches up against the A55 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung SL820 over the Sony A55

 SL820 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Samsung SL820

 A55 SL820 
LaunchedAugust 2010February 2009More modern by 18 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Samsung SL820 and Sony A55

 SL820 A55 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Samsung SL820 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Samsung SL820 has outer dimensions of 95mm x 59mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 168 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Samsung SL820 versus Sony A55 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the SL820 compared to the A55.

Samsung SL820 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SL820 and A55 is 94 and 67 respectively.

Samsung SL820 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Samsung SL820 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes simply by looking through technical specs. The image here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SL820 and A55.

As you have seen, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SL820 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A55 will render greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged SL820 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Samsung SL820 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Samsung SL820 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung SL820 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung SL820
Portrait photography with Sony A55
26
provides face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
73
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung SL820 Street photography information
Sony A55 Street photography information
47
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
77
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Samsung SL820 Sports photography highlights
Sony A55 Sports photography highlights
17
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
bad battery power (380 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung SL820 Travel photography features
Sony A55 Travel photography features
57
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
62
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung SL820 Landscape photography advice
Sony A55 Landscape photography advice
32
relatively wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
67
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
bad battery power (380 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung SL820 Vlogging details
Sony A55 Vlogging details
27
relatively wide (28mm)
provides face detect autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone support
78
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic support
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Samsung SL820 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung SL820 and Sony A55
 Samsung SL820Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung SL820 Sony SLT-A55
Alternate name IT100 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-02-17 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.8 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.50 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Auto & Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Fill-in Flash, Flash Off, Red-Eye Fix Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 168 gr (0.37 pounds) 500 gr (1.10 pounds)
Dimensions 95 x 59 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail cost $280 $800