Sony A100 vs Sony W320

On this page, we will be analyzing the Sony A100 and Sony W320, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact and both of them are designed by Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the A100 (10MP) and W320 (14MP) and the A100 (APS-C) and W320 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The A100 was launched 4 years before the W320 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W320 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the A100 grades versus the W320 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W320. The complete galleries are viewable at Sony A100 Gallery & Sony W320 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony A100 offers exterior measurements of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs) whilst the Sony W320 has dimensions of 93mm x 52mm x 17mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A100 and Sony W320 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the A100 against the W320.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the A100 and W320 is 64 and 97 respectively.

Usually, it's tough to see the contrast between sensor dimensions just by checking a spec sheet. The image below should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the A100 and W320.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The A100 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony W320 will give extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged A100 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.