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Sony a1 vs Sony S2100

Portability
61
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85
Sony Alpha a1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony a1 vs Sony S2100 Key Specs

Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Push to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Released January 2021
Sony S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Announced January 2010
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Sony a1 vs Sony S2100 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Sony a1 versus Sony S2100, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are produced by Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the a1 (50MP) and S2100 (12MP) and the a1 (Full frame) and S2100 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The a1 was manufactured 11 years after the S2100 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S2100 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the a1 matches up vs the S2100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Sony S2100

 a1 S2100 
AnnouncedJanuary 2021January 2010Newer by 135 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k230kClearer display (+1210k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Sony a1

 S2100 a1 

Common features in the Sony a1 and Sony S2100

 a1 S2100 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Sony a1 vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Sony a1 has external dimensions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs) while the Sony S2100 has sizing of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Sony a1 versus Sony S2100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the a1 and the S2100.

Sony a1 vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the a1 and S2100 is 61 and 93 respectively.

Sony a1 vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Sony a1 vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions simply by going over specifications. The picture below will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the a1 and S2100.

Plainly, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The a1 due to its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony a1 will deliver greater detail due to its extra 38 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The newer a1 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Sony a1 vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Sony a1 vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony a1 vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony a1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony S2100 as a Portrait photography camera
88
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/400s)
megapixel count high (50MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
21
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony a1
Street photography with Sony S2100
79
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
has touch to focus
environment proof
very good high ISO (32,000)
46
no moving screen
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony a1 Sports photography factors
Sony S2100 Sports photography factors
90
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
max fps high (30.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count high (50MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
great battery life (530 per charge)
has phase detect autofocus
17
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony a1 Travel photography features
Sony S2100 Travel photography features
73
great battery life (530 per charge)
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
has touch to focus
megapixel count high (50 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
50
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony a1
Landscape photography with Sony S2100
88
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count high (50MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
very good high ISO (32,000)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
great battery life (530 shots)
has double storage slots
27
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony a1
Vlogging with Sony S2100
36
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
great video quality (7680 x 4320 pxls)
has mic port
does not have selfie friendly screen
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external mic socket
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Sony a1 vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony a1 and Sony S2100
 Sony Alpha a1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha a1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2021-01-26 2010-01-07
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 50 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 8640 x 5760 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 32000 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 102400 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 759 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-105mm (3.2x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 133 -
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,440 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 9,437 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.9x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 1 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1200 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 30.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash options Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/400 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 7680x4320 640x480
Video data format XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 737 gr (1.62 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 530 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FZ100 2 x AA
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported) Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Card slots Dual 1
Cost at launch $6,498 $0