Samsung ST600 vs Sony a1

Here, we will be evaluating the Samsung ST600 and Sony a1, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Samsung and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the ST600 (14MP) and a1 (50MP) and the ST600 (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The ST600 was launched 12 years prior to the a1 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Samsung ST600 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the ST600 grades vs the a1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Samsung ST600 & Sony Alpha a1. The complete galleries are available at Samsung ST600 Gallery & Sony a1 Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Samsung ST600 comes with physical dimensions of 104mm x 60mm x 20mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 0.8") along with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Sony a1 has dimensions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Check out the Samsung ST600 and Sony a1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the ST600 versus the a1.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the ST600 and a1 is 95 and 61 respectively.

Usually, it is tough to see the gap in sensor measurements merely by researching technical specs. The visual below might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ST600 and a1.

As you can tell, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ST600 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony a1 will result in greater detail utilizing its extra 36MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older ST600 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.