Clicky

Sony S2100 vs Sony A55

Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony S2100 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Sony S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Announced January 2010
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Renewed by Sony A57
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Sony S2100 vs Sony A55 Overview

Below is a in-depth analysis of the Sony S2100 versus Sony A55, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both created by Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the S2100 (12MP) and A55 (16MP) and the S2100 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The S2100 was manufactured 7 months before the A55 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony S2100 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a brief overview of how the S2100 scores against the A55 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Sony A55

 S2100 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony S2100

 A55 S2100 
LaunchedAugust 2010January 2010More recent by 7 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony S2100 and Sony A55

 S2100 A55 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Sony S2100 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Sony S2100 features physical dimensions of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Sony A55 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Look at the Sony S2100 versus Sony A55 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the S2100 against the A55.

Sony S2100 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S2100 and A55 is 93 and 67 respectively.

Sony S2100 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony S2100 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to envision the contrast in sensor measurements merely by looking through specs. The visual here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the S2100 and A55.

All in all, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The S2100 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A55 will result in more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The older S2100 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sony S2100 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony S2100 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony S2100 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony S2100 Portrait photography features
Sony A55 Portrait photography features
21
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
73
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focus
saves RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony S2100
Street photography with Sony A55
46
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
77
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Sony S2100 Sports photography highlights
Sony A55 Sports photography highlights
17
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200 seconds)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
bad battery (380 CIPA)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Travel Comparison

Sony S2100 Travel photography advice
Sony A55 Travel photography advice
50
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
62
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery (380 shots)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Sony S2100 Landscape photography factors
Sony A55 Landscape photography factors
27
screen size is good (3 inches)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
67
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
bad battery (380 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony S2100
Vlogging with Sony A55
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
78
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic jack
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sony S2100 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony S2100 and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 Sony SLT-A55
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-01-07 2010-08-24
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 33-105mm (3.2x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.6 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1200 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.30 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167 grams (0.37 lbs) 500 grams (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $0 $800