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Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Samsung ST100 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
53
Features
65
Overall
57

Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Samsung ST100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-175mm (F3.6-4.8) lens
  • 155g - 100 x 60 x 20mm
  • Revealed January 2010
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released December 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A100
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Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550 Overview

Following is a in-depth review of the Samsung ST100 and Sony A550, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Samsung and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ST100 (14MP) and the A550 (14MP) is relatively similar but the ST100 (1/2.3") and A550 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ST100 was brought out within a month of the A550 so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Samsung ST100 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the ST100 matches up vs the A550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung ST100 over the Sony A550

 ST100 A550 
Screen dimension3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1152k922kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Samsung ST100

 A550 ST100 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Samsung ST100 and Sony A550

 ST100 A550 
ReleasedJanuary 2010December 2009Similar age
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Samsung ST100 features exterior dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.8") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Sony A550 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Samsung ST100 and Sony A550 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the ST100 versus the A550.

Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the ST100 and A550 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic below might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the ST100 and A550.

As you can see, both the cameras posses the exact same MP albeit not the same sensor sizes. The ST100 includes the tinier sensor which will make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging.

Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung ST100 Portrait photography details
Sony A550 Portrait photography details
33
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
71
has manual focus
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Samsung ST100 Street photography details
Sony A550 Street photography details
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than average (155 grams)
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Samsung ST100 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A550 as a Sports photography camera
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
terrible battery (480 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung ST100 Travel photography info
Sony A550 Travel photography info
60
provides focus by touch
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than average (155g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.6)
51
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (480 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung ST100 Landscape photography features
Sony A550 Landscape photography features
37
lovely big screen (3.5 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.6)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse function
66
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
terrible battery (480 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung ST100 Vlogging info
Sony A550 Vlogging info
29
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.6)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone port
more heavy than average (155 grams)
9
can't shoot video
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Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung ST100 and Sony A550
 Samsung ST100Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Brand Samsung Sony
Model Samsung ST100 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-01-06 2009-12-09
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 35-175mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.6-4.8 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,152k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.10 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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 155 gr (0.34 lbs) 632 gr (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 60 x 20mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 807
Other
Battery life - 480 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media MicroSD/ MicroSDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $250 $749