Samsung ST65 vs Sony a5100

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Samsung ST65 versus Sony a5100, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the ST65 (14MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the ST65 (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The ST65 was announced 4 years before the a5100 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Samsung ST65 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the ST65 matches up versus the a5100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Samsung ST65 & Sony Alpha a5100. The whole galleries are viewable at Samsung ST65 Gallery & Sony a5100 Gallery.

In case you're intending to carry around your camera, you should factor in its weight and size. The Samsung ST65 provides physical measurements of 92mm x 53mm x 17mm (3.6" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

See the Samsung ST65 versus Sony a5100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the ST65 and the a5100.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the ST65 and a5100 is 99 and 89 respectively.

Generally, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes just by researching technical specs. The picture underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the ST65 and a5100.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ST65 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Sony a5100 will result in more detail with its extra 10MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged ST65 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.