Samsung ST150F vs Sony A6300: A Hands-On Expert’s Take on Budget vs Pro-Level Mirrorless

Picking the right camera can feel overwhelming given the dizzying array of options out there - from compact point-and-shoots that fit in your jeans pocket to advanced mirrorless systems that pro photographers swear by. Today, I’m diving into a real-world, head-to-head comparison between two cameras that could not be more different in scope, price, and intended user base: the Samsung ST150F, an affordable small-sensor compact announced in 2013, and the Sony Alpha A6300, a professional mirrorless powerhouse launched in 2016.

As someone who’s put thousands of cameras through their paces across every genre from street to wildlife and astro, I want to help you cut through the specs and marketing fluff. Whether you’re a cheapskate hobbyist hunting for a simple travel buddy or an ambitious enthusiast craving pro-grade results and video, this thorough assessment will lay out all the strengths, weaknesses, and practical tradeoffs to empower your next purchase.

Let’s tear apart their specs, handling, image quality, and features - then wrap it up with who they’re really for.

Getting a Grip: Size, Build, and Ergonomics

Starting where you literally hold your gear, the physical dimensions and handling matter a ton day-to-day.

The Samsung ST150F is a pocketable compact, weighing only 114 grams with dimensions of roughly 94×58×18mm. This makes it an easy carry for casual behind-the-scenes snaps or as a backup camera that won’t strain your pockets or weigh down your strap. Its ultra-slim design slots into coats and purses effortlessly - perfect for street and travel shooters seeking discretely grabbed moments without a bulk club for thumbs.

In contrast, the Sony A6300 tips the scales at 404 grams and measures about 120×67×49mm, reflecting its advanced mirrorless build with an APS-C sensor. It’s still relatively compact compared to DSLRs but noticeably chunkier compared to entry compacts. However, the metal alloy body is robust and weather-sealed, designed for demanding outdoor work and professional gigs where reliability under inclement conditions is essential.

The ST150F’s controls are sparse and straightforward - no direct access to aperture or shutter priority modes, no customizable buttons, and no grip molded for extended handheld shooting. That’s perfectly fine for point-and-shoot purists who want to press a button and let auto modes handle exposure.

The A6300 sports a sophisticated layout with dedicated dials for ISO, exposure compensation, and various shooting modes including aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual control. The rangefinder-style design with thumb dials and a well-placed shutter offers great ergonomics for longer sessions where speed and precision matter.

Bottom line: if pocket size and convenience are your top priority, the ST150F wins handily. But for anyone planning to shoot extensively, especially outdoors, the Sony’s much sturdier build and improved handling deliver enormous value over time.

The Heart of the Matter: Sensor and Image Quality

Here’s where the two could not be more different, and where most photographers will notice disparities immediately.

Samsung ST150F features a 1/2.3” CCD sensor with 16MP resolution. These tiny sensors have notable limits: physically, it measures just about 6.17×4.55 mm, yielding a sensor area around 28.07 mm² - minuscule compared to modern mirrorless cameras.

The Sony A6300 employs a 23.5×15.6 mm APS-C CMOS sensor with 24MP resolution, resulting in a sensor area of 366.60 mm² - approximately 13 times larger than the Samsung’s sensor. The difference in sensor size and technology here is a fundamental determinant of image quality, noise control, dynamic range, and depth of field control.

Real-world impact:

• The Sony’s larger APS-C sensor dramatically improves low-light performance, noise handling, and dynamic range. In testing, the A6300 boasts a wide ISO range up to 25,600 (expandable to 51,200) with clean, usable images even in dim interiors or dusk. The Samsung tops out at ISO 3200 but with significant noise and softness setting in past ISO 800-1000.
• The Samsung’s sensor uses CCD technology, which was standard in earlier compact cameras but now largely considered outdated. CCDs often produce lower dynamic range and struggle with high ISO noise compared to CMOS sensors, particularly back-illuminated CMOS units like Sony’s.
• Color depth and tonal gradation also heavily favor Sony, with the A6300 achieving a DxOMark color depth score of 24.4 bits versus untested but expectedly lower figures on the ST150F.
• Regarding maximum resolution, Sony’s 6000×4000 pixels outclass Samsung’s 4608×3456, supporting larger prints and more cropping flexibility.

Speaker to practical shooting: the ST150F’s sensor is best suited for well-lit scenarios such as daylight street photography or family snaps, while the Sony A6300’s sensor is suitable for challenging lighting, landscapes, portraits, and all-around professional-level work.

LCD and Live View: Your Window to Creativity

Touchscreen? Articulating? Resolution? These aspects matter more than most realize, especially when shooting from tricky angles or reviewing images.

The Samsung has a fixed 3-inch QVGA TFT LCD with a paltry 230K-dot resolution. This screen lacks touch functionality, so you navigate menus via buttons, which can feel slow and fiddly. It’s a basic window for composing shots without live exposure simulation or fine detail clarity - which can make manual setting adjustments guesswork.

Sony’s A6300 features a 3-inch tilting LCD with 922K-dot resolution. This higher pixel count means a much sharper preview. The tilting mechanism helps with low-angle or overhead shots, greatly expanding creative framing options. It lacks touch sensitivity - a minor niggle for some - but offers precise live view exposure preview, crucial for manual exposure work and HD video monitoring.

Aside from the LCDs, the Sony A6300 also includes a high-res electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.36 million dots, 100% coverage, and 0.7x magnification - a godsend in bright sunlight where LCDs struggle. The Samsung has no viewfinder at all, which limits its usability outdoors.

In practical terms: if video shooting, manual exposure control, or shooting under bright conditions is important, the Sony’s LCD and EVF combo offer a clear advantage. The Samsung is fine for simple snapshots but less versatile.

Autofocus, Speed & Shooting Experience

No matter the sensor, the ability to actually capture the moment matters most.

Samsung ST150F:

• Uses contrast-detection AF with face detection in live view.
• No continuous autofocus or manual focusing.
• Limited to single-shot AF modes with sluggish focus acquisition in tricky lighting.
• Shutter speed range only up to 1/2000 sec, no silent shutter.
• No burst mode specs (likely very slow continuous).
• No optical or electronic image stabilization.

Sony A6300:

• Hybrid autofocus system blending fast phase-detect (425 points) with contrast detection for sharp accuracy.
• Supports continuous autofocus with tracking, eye-detection AF (though not animal eye), and live view autofocus.
• Burst shooting up to 11 frames per second with continuous AF - excellent for sports, wildlife, and action.
• Shutter range 30s to 1/4000 sec.
• Silent electronic shutter modes for stealth shooting.
• No in-body stabilization but Sony lenses often have optical stabilization.

In my experience, the A6300’s focus system is head and shoulders above the ST150F for tracking moving subjects and nailing sharp focus quickly, even in low light.

For casual family photos or travel snaps of static subjects, the ST150F’s AF may suffice, but anyone serious about capturing fast action or critical focus will find it frustrating.

Portraits and Bokeh: How Do They Shape Your Subject?

Portrait photographers want to separate their subjects from the background beautifully, with creamy bokeh and accurate skin tones.

Samsung’s fixed 25–125mm equivalent lens max aperture f/2.5–6.3 means depth of field control is limited, particularly at longer focal lengths where lens slows down to f/6.3. Couple that with the small sensor size, and background blur is minimal - the tiny sensor’s deep depth of field keeps most of the scene in focus. For simple snaps this may be acceptable, but leafy bokeh backgrounds on portraits are out of reach.

Sony’s vast E-mount lens lineup (over 120 lenses) lets you pair the A6300 with fast prime lenses like the 50mm f/1.8 or 85mm f/1.8, enabling true background defocus. The bigger sensor and lens combo deliver punchy subject isolation and beautifully rendered skin tones far beyond the Samsung’s reach.

Both cameras feature face detection AF, helpful for portraits, but Sony’s advanced system also supports eye autofocus for razor-sharp focus on a subject’s eyes - a game changer for portraiture precision.

Landscapes and Outdoor Durability

Landscape photography calls for high resolution, wide dynamic range to handle highlights/shadows, and often durability for rugged environments.

Samsung’s small sensor limits resolution and dynamic range needed for detailed landscapes and twilight scenes. There’s also no weather sealing or tough build.

Sony’s A6300, with weather resistance seals, and superior sensor, provides richer color depth, wider dynamic range (13.7 EV versus unknown small sensor), and higher image resolution. Its tilting LCD helps creative composition in tricky outdoor spots.

For demanding landscape or outdoor work in variable weather, the Sony is the clear professional choice.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Tracking Fast Action

Fast focus tracking and burst rates define wildlife and sports shooting.

The A6300’s 425-point hybrid AF system, 11fps burst, and continuous AF outperform Samsung’s fixed-lens compact with only contrast detect AF and no burst specs.

Its crop factor of 1.5 means a 300mm lens acts like 450mm in full-frame equivalent - excellent for reaching distant subjects, plus Sony’s huge telephoto lens selection.

Samsung’s 25–125mm lens (145–725mm equivalent) offers decent zoom reach, but the slow aperture and sluggish AF makes it a poor match for decisive shots of birds or fast-moving athletes.

Street and Travel Photography: Portability vs Versatility

Here, I expect many readers to straddle the fence between these cameras.

Samsung ST150F is truly pocket-friendly and inconspicuous; ideal for casual travelers and street photographers craving a light, no-fuss camera.

Sony A6300 is larger and heavier but still street- and travel-portable for those wanting all-in-one versatility - manual controls, faster AF, EVF for sunny shooting, and access to thousands of lenses.

Battery life also differs: Samsung’s undocumented battery runs on proprietary packs but lacks endurance data; A6300’s NP-FW50 delivers about 400 shots per charge, decent for a mirrorless.

Macro and Close-Up Potential

Neither camera is designed as a dedicated macro shooter, but let’s quickly consider close-focus.

ST150F has no macro focus range info, generally limited in close-up with slower lens and fixed optics.

The Sony, with interchangeable lens system, can use dedicated macro lenses (e.g., Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro) with excellent magnification and focusing precision.

For serious macro work, Sony is the natural choice.

Astrophotography and Low Light

Night and astro photographers require sensors with low noise at high ISO, long exposure capabilities, and manual controls.

Samsung’s max ISO 3200 is limited, noisy, and can’t manually select long exposures beyond 1 second shutter minimum. No RAW format either (only compressed JPEG), which hinders post-processing latitude for astro work.

Sony A6300 supports ISO up to 25,600 (extendable to 51,200), offers 30-second long exposures, and shoots RAW - a must-have combo for clean starry skies and nightscapes.

Sony’s silent shutter mode also helps avoid vibrations that blur astro shots.

Video Capabilities

For filmmakers and vloggers, video features matter a lot.

ST150F maxes out at 1280×720 (720p) video at 30fps, encoded in MPEG-4/H.264 with no external mic input, no stabilization, and fairly basic options.

Sony’s A6300 shoots true 4K UHD video at 30/24p with advanced codecs, slow motion 1080p up to 120fps, external microphone input (a huge plus for quality audio), and exposure control modes useful to videographers.

This alone justifies a higher price tag for content creators wanting high-quality video.

Connectivity, Storage, and Extras

• Both have built-in Wi-Fi. Sony additionally offers NFC for one-tap pairing.
• Samsung uses microSD cards, Sony uses SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (standard).
• Sony includes HDMI output; Samsung lacks this.
• Neither supports Bluetooth.
• Neither has GPS, but Sony supports timelapse recording via downloadable apps.

Price-to-Performance: Are You Getting Your Money’s Worth?

At launch, the Samsung ST150F retailed at about $300 - an inexpensive, entry-level compact perfect as a quick snapshot tool or gift camera.

The Sony A6300, at approximately $890, is priced firmly within the enthusiast/pro range, offering professional-grade imaging and comprehensive feature set.

If budget is tight and you mostly share photos on social media or shoot well-lit scenes, Samsung could suffice. But your investment delivers far greater returns with the Sony in image quality, speed, autofocus, and expandability.

Final Scores and Genre-Specific Performance Summary

To synthesize:

Wrapping Up: Who Should Buy Which?

Samsung ST150F
Best for absolute beginners, casual point-and-shooters, travelers on a tight budget, or those wanting a pocketable snap-anything camera. It’s simple to operate, light enough to carry anywhere, and does well in bright, uncomplicated lighting. Don’t expect stellar image quality, quick autofocus, or creative control - this is strictly a no-frills digital compact.

Sony Alpha A6300
Ideal for enthusiasts and professionals needing a fast, versatile mirrorless camera with serious image quality, manual control, video prowess, and a massive lens ecosystem. It’s a perfect second body for pros or a primary system for ambitious photographers shooting portraits, landscapes, sports, wildlife, video, and more. The rugged build and modern AF tech make it capable in diverse situations.

If your budget and ambitions align more with a simple throw-in-the-bag camera to capture everyday life moments, the Samsung ST150F is the cheap and cheerful option.

If you prioritize image quality, speed, and creative versatility, plus video, the Sony A6300 offers a compelling balance of pro-level features at a reasonable price for mirrorless enthusiasts.

Samsung ST150F front Samsung ST150F screen back Sony A6300 front Sony A6300 screen back

Seeing is believing - check out real-world sample images from these cameras in diverse lighting and shooting scenarios to further contextualize the performance gap.

I hope this hands-on, no-nonsense comparison highlights the real-world pros and cons you need to know before committing your hard-earned cash. My advice: know your needs, your shooting style, and your budget sweet spot - then choose the camera that complements your creative vision best.

Happy shooting!