Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550
95 Imaging
36 Features
34 Overall
35


63 Imaging
53 Features
65 Overall
57
Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Samsung ST100 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A550. The entire galleries are provided at Samsung ST100 Gallery & Sony A550 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Samsung ST100 over the Sony A550
ST100 | A550 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen dimension | 3.5" | ![]() | 3" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Screen resolution | 1152k | ![]() | 922k | Crisper 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 type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Common features in the Samsung ST100 and Sony A550
ST100 | A550 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | January 2010 | ![]() | December 2009 | Similar 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.
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.

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

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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Samsung ST100 vs Sony A550 Specifications
Samsung ST100 | Sony 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 |