Clicky

Samsung ST80 vs Sony A500

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35
Samsung ST80 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Samsung ST80 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Samsung ST80
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 4800 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-105mm (F3.3-5.5) lens
  • 118g - 92 x 55 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2010
Sony A500
(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
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Newer Model is Sony A560
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Samsung ST80 vs Sony A500 Overview

The following is a complete comparison of the Samsung ST80 versus Sony A500, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. The image resolution of the ST80 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very close but the ST80 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) come with different sensor measurements.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The ST80 was launched 5 months after the A500 and they are of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Samsung ST80 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short view of how the ST80 grades against the A500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung ST80 over the Sony A500

 ST80 A500 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Samsung ST80

 A500 ST80 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Samsung ST80 and Sony A500

 ST80 A500 
RevealedJanuary 2010August 2009Same age
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Samsung ST80 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Samsung ST80 offers outside dimensions of 92mm x 55mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 118 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Samsung ST80 versus Sony A500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the ST80 versus the A500.

Samsung ST80 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the ST80 and A500 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Samsung ST80 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Samsung ST80 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions only by researching specifications. The picture underneath should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the ST80 and A500.

To sum up, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The ST80 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Samsung ST80 will provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images much more aggressively.

Samsung ST80 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Samsung ST80 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung ST80 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung ST80 Portrait photography advice
Sony A500 Portrait photography advice
30
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
63
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung ST80
Street photography with Sony A500
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
has touch to focus
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Samsung ST80 Sports photography highlights
Sony A500 Sports photography highlights
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (520 shots)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Samsung ST80 Travel photography advice
Sony A500 Travel photography advice
62
has touch to focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
43
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery power (520 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Samsung ST80 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
39
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse function
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (520 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Samsung ST80 Vlogging information
Sony A500 Vlogging information
28
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone port
9
no video recording
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Samsung ST80 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung ST80 and Sony A500
 Samsung ST80Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model Samsung ST80 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-01-06 2009-08-27
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 4800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 35-105mm (3.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.5 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate - 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 118 gr (0.26 lbs) 630 gr (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 92 x 55 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life - 520 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model BP70A NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double, Motion) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage MicroSD/ MicroSDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $249 $638