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Sony S950 vs Sony A57

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sony S950 vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Launched February 2009
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony A55
  • Updated by Sony A58
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Sony S950 vs Sony A57 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Sony S950 versus Sony A57, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are produced by Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the S950 (10MP) and A57 (16MP) and the S950 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The S950 was brought out 4 years prior to the A57 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony S950 being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the S950 matches up against the A57 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Sony A57

 S950 A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sony S950

 A57 S950 
IntroducedSeptember 2012February 2009More modern by 43 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony S950 and Sony A57

 S950 A57 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Sony S950 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony S950 has outer dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Sony A57 has proportions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") along with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check out the Sony S950 versus Sony A57 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the S950 vs the A57.

Sony S950 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the S950 and A57 is 94 and 64 respectively.

Sony S950 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sony S950 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading technical specs. The picture here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the S950 and A57.

As you have seen, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The S950 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A57 will offer you extra detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged S950 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Sony S950 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sony S950 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony S950 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony S950 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A57 as a Portrait photography camera
26
you can focus manually
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony S950 Street photography info
Sony A57 Street photography info
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
75
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony S950 Sports photography highlights
Sony A57 Sports photography highlights
24
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
supports phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony S950 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A57 as a Travel photography camera
50
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
67
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony S950
Landscape photography with Sony A57
31
you can focus manually
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse recording
72
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony S950 Vlogging features
Sony A57 Vlogging features
9
lack of video recording
77
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone support
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Sony S950 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony S950 and Sony A57
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 Sony SLT-A57
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-02-17 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 16000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.2 -
Macro focusing distance 10cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 2s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 12.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 167g (0.37 lbs) 618g (1.36 lbs)
Physical dimensions 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 785
Other
Battery life - 550 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $130 $1,000