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Samsung ST100 vs Sony a1

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Samsung ST100 front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85

Samsung ST100 vs Sony a1 Key Specs

Samsung ST100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-175mm (F3.6-4.8) lens
  • 155g - 100 x 60 x 20mm
  • Launched January 2010
Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Expand to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Revealed January 2021
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Samsung ST100 vs Sony a1 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Samsung ST100 over the Sony a1

 ST100 a1 
Screen size3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Samsung ST100

 a1 ST100 
RevealedJanuary 2021January 2010Fresher by 134 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k1152kClearer screen (+288k dot)

Common features in the Samsung ST100 and Sony a1

 ST100 a1 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Samsung ST100 vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Samsung ST100 vs Sony a1 size comparison

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

Samsung ST100 vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Samsung ST100 vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

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.

Samsung ST100 vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Samsung ST100 vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung ST100 vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung ST100 Portrait photography details
Sony a1 Portrait photography details
33
MP count decent (14MP)
provides face detection focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
88
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/400 seconds)
megapixel count amazing (50 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Samsung ST100 Street photography advice
Sony a1 Street photography advice
60
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (155 grams)
79
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
features touch focus
environment proofing
great high ISO (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Samsung ST100 Sports photography features
Sony a1 Sports photography features
34
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
90
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
high max frames per second (30.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count amazing (50 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
better than average battery power (530 per charge)
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung ST100 Travel photography highlights
Sony a1 Travel photography highlights
60
boasts touch to focus
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (155 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.6)
73
better than average battery power (530 shots)
environment proofing
has bluetooth
features touch focus
megapixel count amazing (50MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung ST100 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony a1 as a Landscape photography camera
37
lovely big screen (3.5 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.6)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse function
88
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count amazing (50MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
great high ISO (32,000)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
better than average battery power (530 shots)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung ST100
Vlogging with Sony a1
29
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.6)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (155g)
36
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (7680 x 4320 resolution)
comes with external mic support
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Samsung ST100 vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung ST100 and Sony a1
 Samsung ST100Sony Alpha a1
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model Samsung ST100 Sony Alpha a1
Type Ultracompact Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2010-01-06 2021-01-26
Physical type Ultracompact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 50 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 8640 x 5760
Max native ISO 3200 32000
Max boosted ISO - 102400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Min boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 759
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 35-175mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.6-4.8 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 133
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,152k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 9,437k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.9x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1000s 1/8000s
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate - 30.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.10 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/400s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98)
Max video resolution 1280x720 7680x4320
Video format Motion JPEG XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 155 gr (0.34 lb) 737 gr (1.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 100 x 60 x 20mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.8") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 530 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage MicroSD/ MicroSDHC, Internal Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Card slots Single Dual
Pricing at launch $250 $6,498