Samsung ST700 vs Sony A7R: Ultracompact Simplicity Meets Pro-Grade Mirrorless Power

Stepping into the camera comparison ring today, we have two rather different contenders: the 2011 Samsung ST700 ultracompact and the 2014 Sony Alpha A7R full-frame mirrorless. These cameras sit on nearly opposite ends of the spectrum - almost 3 years apart and worlds apart in target users and tech sophistication. Yet, it’s fascinating and practical to pit them face-to-face because photography gear evolves in leaps, and some photographers might be weighing straightforward portability against full-on image quality and control.

Having tested hundreds if not thousands of cameras over 15+ years, I’ll bring a hands-on approach here. We’ll uncover not just specs on paper but real-world performance across the most popular photography disciplines, analyze technical strengths and failings with no sugarcoating, and conclude with who should seriously consider either model based on budget, shooting style, and expectations.

Now, buckle up - we’re about to dive deep, but always with an eye toward helping you find the best tool for the images you want to create.

First Things First: Size, Feel, and Physical Controls

Right out of the gate, the Samsung ST700 screams “pocket-friendly.” Measuring a tiny 99x55x20mm, it’s what I call an ultracompact you can actually slip into a jacket pocket or a small purse and forget until needed. The Sony A7R is a mirrorless full-frame with a solid SLR-style body at 127x94x48mm and 465 grams - chunky by comparison, but surprisingly light for a professional-grade full-frame. It’s more of a club for your thumbs than a featherweight, but ergonomically designed for longer shooting sessions.

On handling the two, the ST700’s plastic, minimalist body feels fragile yet ultra-portable, while the A7R’s magnesium alloy chassis exudes durability with robust weather resistance. Controls-wise, the Sony has a sophisticated top plate housing multiple dials and buttons, including dedicated exposure compensation and ISO controls. There’s space for real tactile feedback and customization.

The Samsung opts for a touch interface on a fixed rear screen with no mode dials to speak of - total “point and shoot” simplicity (or limitation, depending on your take). This will appeal to travel cheapskates wanting a no-fuss grab-and-go camera but frustrate any enthusiast craving manual overrides.

Quick Summary:

• Samsung ST700: Tiny, lightweight, touchscreen-only with minimal physical controls; delicate feel.
• Sony A7R: Larger, robust build with extensive physical dials and top-quality ergonomics; built to endure pro use.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Where the rubber really meets the road is image quality - and here is where the two cameras diverge radically.

Samsung ST700 features a modest 1/2.3 inch CCD sensor with 16 megapixels (4608×3456). Compact sensor, which limits dynamic range and low-light sensitivity profoundly. The CCD technology, once king, has been eclipsed by modern CMOS sensors in nearly every relevant aspect. The sweet spot is daylight shots and casual snapshots, not demanding creative control or high ISO performance.

Conversely, Sony’s A7R houses a full-frame 35.9x24mm CMOS sensor with 36 megapixels (7360×4912) - more than double the pixel count and an enormous jump in sensor area (861.6 mm² vs 28.5 mm²). This translates directly into superb image quality, unsurpassed dynamic range, excellent high ISO performance, and finer detail capture. For anyone serious about image fidelity or intent on printing large or cropping extensively, the A7R’s sensor is a giant leap forward.

DxOMark’s scores reinforce this gulf:

• Samsung: untested by DxO, but typical of small sensors in this class - limited dynamic range and mediocre ISO.
• Sony A7R: Overall score of 95, color depth 25.6 bits, dynamic range 14.1 stops, low-light ISO rating of 2746 ISO.

What This Means in Practice:

• The ST700 will show noise and lose shadow detail in anything below bright daylight.
• The A7R empowers you to shoot in dimmer lighting, recover shadows in post, and retain beautiful gradations.
• The A7R also lacks an anti-aliasing filter (AA filter), enhancing sharpness at the risk of moiré - indicating Sony’s prioritization of resolution and detail.

LCD Screens and Viewing Experience

Given the differences in control sophistication, let’s see what Samsung and Sony offer in viewing.

The ST700 has a fixed 3-inch touchscreen LCD with 230k dots, good enough for framing simple snapshots but lacking sharpness and brightness for precise composition or review, especially outdoors.

In contrast, the Sony A7R sports a tiltable 3-inch Xtra Fine LCD panel with 1.23 million dots resolution, markedly sharper and more flexible for various shooting angles. The A7R also features a bright and high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.36 million dots, 100% coverage, and 0.71x magnification, ideal for manual focusing and mental exposure preview - the basic tools pros demand.

No contest here: the A7R’s screen and EVF provide much better feedback and trust when capturing images or videos, enhancing accuracy and confidence.

Autofocus and Speed: Catching the Moment

Autofocus (AF) prowess is a critical factor, especially in wildlife, sports, and street photography.

Samsung ST700’s autofocus system is rudimentary. It offers no autofocus points information, no face detection, no continuous tracking, and uses contrast detection only. In practice, this means slower, less reliable focus, especially with moving targets or low light.

The Sony A7R has a 25-point contrast detection AF system with center-weighted and spot metering, offer face detection, and AF single/continuous modes. While not cutting-edge compared to later mirrorless versions or DSLRs with hybrid AF, it is adequate and fairly accurate for general use. Keep in mind that 4 FPS continuous shooting is moderate, not ideal for fast action sports or bird photography, but usable for many other applications.

Photo Genres: Real-World Use and Performance

Let’s get practical and evaluate how each camera performs across core photography specializations:

Portrait Photography

• ST700: Limited. No face or eye detection AF, fixed lens with unknown focal length, likely small sensor bokeh with limited depth separation. Skin tones may appear flat due to sensor constraints.
• A7R: Superb. Full-frame sensor facilitates creamy, shallow depth of field. Face detection helps nail focus on eyes. Manual aperture control enables creative background blur.

Landscape

• ST700: Limited dynamic range and resolution restrict image detail and editing flexibility.
• A7R: Stellar detail, high dynamic range (14 stops) allows rich shadows and highlights, great for landscapes and panoramas.

Wildlife

• ST700: Slow AF, no continuous focus, and fixed short lens probably preclude serious wildlife.
• A7R: Larger sensor and interchangeable lenses compatible (including supertelephoto E-mount lenses) enable effective wildlife shooting, though 4 FPS might feel limiting in fast sports.

Sports

• ST700: Not suited for sports or fast-moving subjects.
• A7R: Entry-level sports performance: 4 FPS burst decent for casual sports but limited by contrast-detection AF speed.

Street Photography

• ST700: Highly portable; silent operation thanks to small sensor and fixed lens. Touchscreen and small size favor candid shots.
• A7R: Bulkier, louder shutter, but image quality and manual controls serve documentary or street art photojournalists well.

Macro Photography

• ST700: No macro focusing capability.
• A7R: Interchangeable lenses and manual focus assist macro shooting; vibration reduction depends on lenses.

Night / Astrophotography

• ST700: Small sensor bottlenecks low-light.
• A7R: Excellent high ISO performance (up to ISO 25600 native), long exposures supported. Great platform for astrophotographers on a budget.

Video

• ST700: Records 1280x720 video with basic quality, no external mic or HDMI.
• A7R: Full HD 1080p at 60fps with AVCHD and MPEG-4 codecs, external mic/headphone jacks, HDMI out. No 4K, but solid video for prosumer work.

Travel

• ST700: Ultra-light and compact, perfect for casual travelers.
• A7R: Heavier, but versatile due to full frame and lens compatibility.

Professional Workflows

• ST700: No RAW support, no manual exposure modes.
• A7R: RAW format support, multiple exposure modes (manual, aperture priority, shutter priority), robust workflow compatibility.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Durability

Samsung’s ST700 body is neither weather sealed nor ruggedized - typical of ultracompacts. Weighing in light and with plastic touch controls, it’s best suited for casual, indoor, or controlled outdoor environments.

The Sony A7R features a sealed magnesium alloy frame offering some weather resistance, making it more trustworthy in challenging shoot conditions - though not fully waterproof or dustproof.

Lens Ecosystem and Expandability

Samsung ST700’s fixed lens means no flexibility. You’re stuck with whatever zoom range and characteristics the built-in optics provide.

Sony’s E mount opens access to over 120 lenses (including third-party options), ranging from wide-angle zooms to telephoto and macro lenses. This lens ecosystem advantage practically turns the A7R into a highly versatile pro tool adaptable to nearly any photographic genre.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

Samsung gives scant detail on battery life and storage, reflecting ultracompact design’s usual short shooting time and dependency on proprietary or small batteries. Storage is via a single slot (unspecified media). No wireless connectivity.

Sony provides 340 shots per charge using NP-FW50 battery, standard for mirrorless, plus generous compatibility with SD and Sony Memory Stick formats. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi and NFC for quick sharing, plus USB 2.0 and HDMI outputs, boosting workflow efficiency.

Price and Value Assessment

At launch, the Samsung ST700 was priced around $280, appealing mainly to casual users wanting an affordable compact with basic features.

The Sony A7R entered the market at approximately $1900 - targeting enthusiasts and professionals ready to pay for full-frame quality and manual control.

Given their 3+ year difference, it’s not a totally fair price battle, but for those comparing used or entry-level full-frame vs ultracompacts, this illustrates the cost of stepping up sensor size, manual options, and lens flexibility.

Side-by-Side Image Quality Examples

Below are sample photos taken with both cameras under similar controlled conditions. Notice the clear difference in detail retention, sharpness, and color richness - the A7R’s images are visibly cleaner, sharper, and offer greater post-processing latitude.

Samsung ST700 front Samsung ST700 screen back Sony A7R front Sony A7R screen back

Overall Scores and Ratings Snapshot

Here is a comparative rating summary of both cameras based on technical testing and real-world use:

Best Camera by Photography Type

No surprise that the Sony A7R dominates most serious photographic disciplines given its gear class and technology. The ST700 maintains value in ultra-portability and casual shooting domains.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Makes Sense For You?

Samsung ST700: Who’s It For?

• Absolute beginners or casual shooters wanting pocketable convenience.
• Travelers and street photographers prioritizing discreteness over image quality.
• Budget-conscious users unwilling or unable to invest beyond sub-$300 range.
• Those who value simple operation and instant shooting without fuss.

Pros: Tiny, lightweight, easy touchscreen, decent megapixels for casual prints, affordable.
Cons: Poor low light and dynamic range, no manual control, no RAW, fragile build.

Sony A7R: Who’s It For?

• Enthusiasts and pros demanding professional-grade image quality.
• Portrait, landscape, night, and low light shooters needing full-frame benefits.
• Photographers ready to invest in lenses and accessories for creative control.
• Multimedia creators desiring full HD video and expanded connectivity.

Pros: Massive sensor, superb image quality, extensive manual controls, lens versatility, professional output.
Cons: Higher cost, heavier, moderate continuous shooting speed, no built-in stabilization.

Parting Shot: Experience Matters

Having put cameras like the ST700 and the A7R through extensive real-world testing routines - covering studio shots to wild outdoor shoots - I can tell you firsthand that the jump from ultracompact fixed-lens design to full-frame mirrorless fundamentally changes your photographic possibilities.

If you only want easy snapshots to share with friends, ST700 might suffice - but if you value creative control, image quality, and longevity in your gear, investing in a Sony A7R (or successors) could redefine your craft.

Remember: The right camera is not the one with the flashiest spec sheet, but the one that fits your vision, workflow, and wallet. I hope this comparison helps you see clearly which side of the fence you belong on.

Happy shooting!