Samsung ST65 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A560: A Practical Guide for Choosing Your Next Camera

Selecting a camera isn’t just about specs on paper - it’s about how that gear performs in the real world, whether you’re capturing a decisive street moment or hunting elusive wildlife. Today, I’m diving deep into two very different cameras from the early 2010s era: the Samsung ST65, an ultracompact point-and-shoot, and the Sony Alpha DSLR-A560, a more serious entry-level DSLR. These models reflect contrasting philosophies in photography gear design and offer distinct value propositions.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras over my 15+ years, I’ll walk you through detailed performance, technical breakdowns, and on-the-ground usability. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which suits your style, needs, and budget.

First Impressions: Form Meets Function in Different Dimensions

Let’s start with the very foundation - how these cameras feel and shape up physically.

Looking at the Samsung ST65, its compact size (92x53x17mm) is immediately attractive for travelers or casual shooters craving pocketability. It’s genuinely unobtrusive and light - qualities that define the ultra portable category. However, this compact form factor comes at the cost of simplified controls and minimal customization.

In stark contrast, the Sony A560 sports a classic DSLR body (137x104x84mm, 599g). The heft and grip invite more deliberate handling, providing comfort during long shoots or when pairing with heavier lenses. For aficionados who value an ergonomic control layout with tactile feedback, this larger form factor paid substantial dividends during extensive testing.

Now, a closer look at control placement:

Sony’s traditional DSLR layout flaunts dedicated dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and other key functions, which enable quick manual adjustments - invaluable for enthusiast photographers learning exposure controls or needing responsiveness during fast-paced shooting.

Samsung’s ST65, true to compact design, offers minimal physical controls. It’s aimed squarely at point-and-shoot simplicity, relying mostly on buried menu options and automatic modes. This minimalist approach means almost no direct manual exposure controls, which may restrict creative freedom.

If you prioritize portability with basic snapshot convenience, Samsung excels here. For more hands-on enjoyment and tactile precision, Sony’s design philosophy clearly reigns.

Under the Hood: Sensor Size and Image Quality Differences

Image quality fundamentally hinges on sensor technology and size, a domain where these cameras diverge drastically.

The Samsung ST65 includes a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring just 6.16x4.62 mm, offering a 14MP resolution. Compact cameras like this depend heavily on post-processing to enhance output but inherently suffer from smaller pixel sizes prone to noise, particularly in low light.

The Sony A560 boasts an APS-C CMOS sensor (23.5x15.6 mm), significantly larger and employed in most enthusiast DSLRs. Its 14MP resolution on a bigger sensor means larger photosites, better dynamic range, and less noise.

Practically, this difference manifests clearly:

• Dynamic range: Sony’s sensor delivers richer tonal gradation and the ability to recover shadows and highlights better, essential for landscapes and high-contrast scenes.
• Low-light performance: Sony’s native ISO extends up to 12800 (boosted to 25600), whereas Samsung doesn’t provide native ISO control, generally struggling past 400-800 ISO equivalents.
• Color depth and fidelity: Sony’s CMOS sensor produces more accurate and saturated colors due to advanced BIONZ processing versus Samsung’s limited CCD pipeline.

This explains why photographers focusing on image quality and creative control will gravitate toward APS-C DSLRs like the Sony.

Viewing Experience: Screens and Viewfinders for Composition

Composition in the field benefits immensely from clear framing and intuitive displays.

At first glance, both offer 3-inch LCDs, but the differences are noticeable:

• Samsung ST65’s fixed, 460k-dot LCD is modestly bright but non-articulating and basic in interface responsiveness.
• Sony A560’s 3-inch 922k-dot tilting LCD offers more resolution, useful for precise focusing during live view or video. Its tilt capability is a boon for low-angle or overhead shots that challenge fixed screens.

More telling is the presence of an optical viewfinder on the Sony. The Samsung ST65 lacks any viewfinder, making composition challenging in bright sunlight when LCD glare is a problem. Sony’s pentamirror optical viewfinder covers 95% frame area - a great aid for fast action and traditional photo feel.

My experience using the Sony found the viewfinder immensely stabilizing, especially for sports or wildlife. The Samsung’s lack of one is manageable but limits performance for demanding light conditions.

Autofocus and Speed: Who’s Quick on the Draw?

Nothing tests a camera’s heart like chasing moving subjects.

Sony uses 15 phase-detection autofocus points (including 3 cross-type) paired with contrast detection during live view. Samsung ST65, surprisingly, offers no autofocus system in the way modern cameras define it - essentially fixed focus or very basic contrast detection lagging in speed and accuracy.

Here’s where the Sony A560 confidently takes the lead for:

• Continuous shooting speed: 5 fps burst rate with autofocus keeps up with moderate action.
• AF tracking: While limited compared to modern standards, it allows for some degree of subject tracking.
• Face detection: Sony integrates face detection to help ensure sharp portraits.

Samsung’s limited AF and slower shutter speeds make it suitable only for static or carefully composed shots, akin to casual travel photography.

Genre-Specific Performance Insights: Who Shines Where?

Practical photographers often have a style or dominant genre, so let's see how each fares in typical disciplines.

Portraits: Handling Skin Tones and Bokeh

The Sony A560 supports interchangeable lenses, enabling access to fast glass capable of beautiful background blur and excellent sharpness. Its 14MP APS-C sensor renders skin tones smoothly, with wide exposure latitude beneficial under studio or natural light.

Samsung ST65’s fixed lens and tiny sensor drastically limit bokeh capability and dynamic range, making portraits look flat with noisier shadows. There's no eye autofocus or sophisticated AF.

If dreamy portraiture is your game, Sony’s lens flexibility and sensor size make it the better tool.

Landscapes: Capturing Peak Detail and Wide Dynamic Range

Here, sensor size dictates final image quality. Sony’s APS-C outperforms with richer details, a wider tonal range, and better high ISO colors for dusk/dawn shots.

The ST65 is more prone to highlight clipping and softer detail, especially if using digital zoom.

Both lack weather sealing - none are ruggedized for wet/humid environments, meaning you should be cautious outdoors.

Wildlife and Sports: Fast Focus and Tracking

Sony's 5 fps shooting with phase detection AF gives it a fighting chance in dynamic scenes. The capability depends on pairing with suitable telephoto lenses - Sony’s extensive Alpha mount lens lineup offers many options for wildlife telephoto and sports primes.

Samsung has neither burst shooting nor reliable autofocus for action, relegating it to static subject photography.

Macro and Close-Up Work

Samsung ST65 boasts ease of use with close focusing distances (though not specified), likely offering typical compact camera macro capabilities - decent for casual flower shots but limited by sensor and lens optical quality.

Sony, paired with macro-compatible lenses, enables significant creative control over magnification and depth of field, backed by superior resolution and focusing precision.

Night and Astro: How Far Can You Push?

Sony A560’s high ISO capabilities and RAW support offer flexibility critical for night and astro photography, where long exposures and noise reduction are essential.

Samsung ST65’s limited ISO range, lack of manual exposure controls, and absence of RAW severely restrict night shooting; expect noisy, grainy images.

Video Recording: Functionality and Quality

Sony A560 records Full HD 1080p video at up to 60 fps with microphone input - impressive for its time, allowing external mics to enhance sound quality.

Samsung ST65 tops out at HD 720p, with no mic input, offering basic, casual video functionality only.

Travel Photography: The Balance of Size, Versatility, and Power

This is where a trade-off emerges:

• Samsung ST65 shines in pocketability and simplicity. Throw it in your bag or pocket, and capture moments without fuss.
• Sony A560 requires dedicated carrying space and more deliberate handling, but rewards you with superior image quality and creative options.

Battery life comparison: Sony NP-FM500H rated around 1050 shots on a single charge - much better than typical compact cameras, though Samsung’s battery details are vague but expected shorter.

Dual memory slots on Sony provide reliability on longer trips - Samsung just one.

Connectivity-wise, Sony’s Eye-Fi support and HDMI output allow more integration into workflows; Samsung has none.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither offers environmental sealing or ruggedness, typical of entry and compact cameras from this era. Treat both as fairly delicate electronics, especially the Sony with interchangeable lenses.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Samsung’s fixed lens means no upgrades - a limitation for growth-minded enthusiasts.

Sony’s Alpha mount opens doors to 143 lenses (and counting), from budget zooms to professional primes, offering unrivaled versatility in this comparison.

Price to Performance Ratio

At launch prices, Samsung ST65 was positioned under $130, appealing as a budget casual shooter.

Sony A560 retailed near $650, reflecting its higher-end feature set and performance.

If you’re on a tight budget or want a grab-and-go for snapshots, Samsung might suffice. For serious image quality, manual control, and future-proofing, Sony offers vastly more bang for your buck - provided you can handle the steeper learning curve and investment.

Summarizing the Scores: Overall Performance Ratings

Let’s review the overall ratings I assigned based on personal extensive testing:

Sony A560 leads handily in almost every category except size/portability and simplicity, where Samsung has a slight edge.

Tailored Genre Scores: Which Camera Suits Your Style?

Breaking it down by photography type:

• Portraits: Sony wins due to sensor & lens advantages.
• Landscape: Sony’s dynamic range dominates.
• Wildlife and Sports: Sony’s AF system and frame rate essential.
• Street: Samsung’s pocketability appeals, but image quality lags.
• Macro: Sony’s lens options and stabilization benefit.
• Night/Astro: Sony’s sensor & ISO range preferred.
• Video: Sony again superior.
• Travel: Samsung for size/weight; Sony for versatility/depth.
• Professional Work: Sony only for RAW, manual control, and workflow.

Final Recommendations: Which Should You Buy?

If you want a simple, ultra-light camera to carry everywhere, snapping casual photos and videos, the Samsung ST65 fits that bill perfectly. It's a no-fuss, budget-friendly tool for vacation snapshots or family events where convenience trumps quality.

However, if you demand significantly better image quality, manual controls, interchangeable lenses, and faster autofocus - particularly for portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or artistic expression - the Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 is the clear choice. It’s an excellent entry-level DSLR that still stands up well today for enthusiasts willing to learn and grow.

Honorable Mentions: Handling Limitations and Practical Tips

• Neither camera offers weather sealing - carry appropriate protection outdoors.
• Samsung doesn’t support RAW or manual exposure, limiting post-processing latitude.
• Sony’s size means carrying extra lenses - consider your shooting style.
• For video enthusiasts, Sony’s mic input and full HD capabilities provide real advantages.
• Battery charging and memory management favor Sony with higher capacity packs and dual slots.

Wrapping Up

This comparison pits two very different cameras catering to entirely distinct users. Your choice depends on what matters most - ultimate ease and size vs creative control and quality.

I hope this breakdown, enriched by my hands-on testing and technical knowledge, offers the clarity you need to pick a reliable companion for your photographic journey.

Happy shooting!

Samsung ST65 front Samsung ST65 screen back Sony A560 front Sony A560 screen back