Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500
98 Imaging
32 Features
18 Overall
26


63 Imaging
51 Features
52 Overall
51
Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Samsung ST30 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The full galleries are available at Samsung ST30 Gallery and Sony A500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Samsung ST30 over the Sony A500
ST30 | A500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | January 2011 | ![]() | August 2009 | More recent by 17 months |
Display resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer display (+230k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Samsung ST30
A500 | ST30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Dial exact focus | ||
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Common features in the Samsung ST30 and Sony A500
ST30 | A500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.

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

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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Samsung ST30 vs Sony A500 Specifications
Samsung ST30 | Sony 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 |