Samsung ST100 vs Sony a1

Its time to look more closely at the Samsung ST100 versus Sony a1, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Samsung and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the ST100 (14MP) and a1 (50MP) and the ST100 (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The ST100 was unveiled 12 years before the a1 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Samsung ST100 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the ST100 matches up vs the a1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Samsung ST100 & Sony Alpha a1. The full galleries are available at Samsung ST100 Gallery & Sony a1 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Samsung ST100 enjoys outer dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.8") having a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Sony a1 has sizing of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Examine the Samsung ST100 versus Sony a1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose during that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the ST100 against the a1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the ST100 and a1 is 95 and 61 respectively.

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizing purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the ST100 and a1.

Clearly, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ST100 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony a1 will offer you more detail having an extra 36MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older ST100 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.