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Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500

Portability
98
Imaging
32
Features
18
Overall
26
Samsung ST30 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
51
Features
52
Overall
51

Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Samsung ST30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 0 - 0
  • 640 x 480 video
  • ()mm (F) lens
  • 87g - 82 x 52 x 17mm
  • Introduced January 2011
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Successor is Sony A560
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Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Samsung ST30 and Sony A500, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Samsung and Sony. The resolution of the ST30 (10MP) and the A500 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the ST30 (1/3") and A500 (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The ST30 was revealed 17 months later than the A500 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Samsung ST30 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the ST30 scores against the A500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung ST30 over the Sony A500

 ST30 A500 
LaunchedJanuary 2011August 2009More recent by 17 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Samsung ST30

 A500 ST30 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Samsung ST30 and Sony A500

 ST30 A500 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Samsung ST30 offers external measurements of 82mm x 52mm x 17mm (3.2" x 2.0" x 0.7") having a weight of 87 grams (0.19 lbs) and the Sony A500 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Samsung ST30 and Sony A500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the ST30 compared to the A500.

Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the ST30 and A500 is 98 and 63 respectively.

Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to picture the gap between sensor measurements merely by checking technical specs. The visual below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the ST30 and A500.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ST30 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Sony A500 will resolve extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more recent ST30 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung ST30 Portrait photography features
Sony A500 Portrait photography features
19
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/3")
has no RAW format
62
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Samsung ST30 as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
54
lighter than average (87g)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/3")
has no RAW format
low max ISO (0)
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Samsung ST30 Sports photography factors
Sony A500 Sports photography factors
16
focal length is fixed (()mm)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/3")
has no phase detect auto focus
50
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung ST30 Travel photography information
Sony A500 Travel photography information
65
lighter than average (87 grams)
built-in flash
fast maximum aperture (f)
does not have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
43
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (520 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung ST30
Landscape photography with Sony A500
30
fast maximum aperture (f)
screen is a decent size (3")
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
small sensor (1/3")
low max ISO (0)
has no RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (520 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung ST30 Vlogging features
Sony A500 Vlogging features
29
fast maximum aperture (f)
lighter than average (87g)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external microphone socket
9
no video shooting
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Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung ST30 and Sony A500
 Samsung ST30Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung ST30 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-01-19 2009-08-27
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 4.8 x 3.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 17.3mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO - 12800
Min native ISO - 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range () -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 7.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 -
Maximum video resolution 640x480 None
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 87g (0.19 pounds) 630g (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 82 x 52 x 17mm (3.2" x 2.0" x 0.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life - 520 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type - SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $55 $638