Canon SX20 IS vs Samsung ST80: An Expert Hands-On Comparison for Photographers in 2024

When it comes to choosing a compact or bridge camera, the market is flooded with options - each catering to different styles and demands of photography. Today, I’ll take you through an in-depth, firsthand comparison of two cameras that were notable about a decade ago but still carry lessons in their design philosophy and performance: the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS and the Samsung ST80.

Both debuted around 2010, yet they serve quite different audiences. The Canon SX20 IS is a bridge-style "small sensor superzoom" camera aimed at enthusiasts seeking versatility in a single package. The Samsung ST80 is a sleek ultracompact, designed for convenience and portability.

Having spent hundreds of hours shooting with a range of compact and bridge cameras - including these two - I’ll dive into their technical strengths and limitations, real-world results across multiple photography branches, and who would most benefit from each model. Let’s start with the nuts and bolts.

First Glance: Size, Ergonomics, and Physical Design

Understanding physical size and ergonomics is crucial because no amount of technical prowess substitutes comfort when shooting for hours.

The Canon SX20 IS weighs roughly 600g and measures 128 x 88 x 87mm. It adopts a bridge camera form factor that mimics DSLR ergonomics but uses a fixed lens. That style gives better grip and more physical controls than typical compacts. The camera has a fully articulating 2.5-inch LCD and an electronic viewfinder.

The Samsung ST80 is a slim ultracompact at 118g and 92 x 55 x 19mm - significantly lighter and thinner, prioritizing pocketability and convenience over extensive controls. It only offers a fixed 3-inch touchscreen with no viewfinder, fitting into the category of sub-compact cameras built for casual shooting.

Here’s a visual comparison to highlight the size and shape differences:

Hands-on insight: I found that the Canon’s solid grip and dedicated buttons make it comfortable for longer, more deliberate shooting sessions, especially useful for faster-paced genres like wildlife or sports where quick settings changes matter. The Samsung’s minimalist design makes it wonderfully portable for street and travel photography, but sacrifices some control precision.

Control Layout and User Interface

Control ergonomics tie directly into how intuitive and speedy the camera feels during shooting. The Canon SX20 IS sports a top and rear control layout reminiscent of DSLRs - mode dials, dedicated buttons for ISO, white balance, and exposure compensation, plus a control wheel. The articulated rear LCD supports flexible angles.

The Samsung ST80 simplifies things with a minimal button array, relying heavily on its touchscreen interface for autofocus point selection and settings adjustments. It lacks a physical viewfinder, so composing through the LCD is the only option.

Here is the top view comparison showing button placement and dials:

Expert perspective: During my extended testing, the Canon’s tangible dials and buttons provided confidence in fast-action scenarios like sports or wildlife. The Samsung's touchscreen is pleasant for casual compositions but less practical outdoors under sunlight due to glare and less tactile feedback.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras feature a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor - common in point-and-shoots of the era but smaller by today’s standards, which impacts noise performance and dynamic range. The SX20 IS has a 12MP resolution (4000 x 3000), while the ST80 ups resolution to 14MP (4320 x 3240). On paper, Samsung offers a slightly higher resolution, but sensor size and processing also define outcomes.

The actual sensor diagonal of Canon’s is 6.17 x 4.55 mm (28.07 mm² area), and Samsung’s is 6.08 x 4.56 mm (~27.72 mm²). Tiny differences but potentially impactful in image quality.

Here is a quick visual of the sensor size comparison, relevant to image quality discussions:

Technical analysis:
Small sensors mean trade-offs - limited depth of field control, higher noise at elevated ISOs, and narrower dynamic range. The Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor is a notable advantage, implementing noise reduction and sharpening effectively, though not perfect. Samsung uses CCD sensor but with less advanced noise handling and JPEG processing.

Real-world notes: I found that Canon produces generally cleaner images with more natural colors in daylight, yet Samsung’s higher megapixel count helps capture finer details in good light. Both struggle above ISO 400, causing noise and detail loss.

Viewing Systems: LCD and Viewfinder Functionality

Choosing an LCD or EVF is about how and where you shoot. The Canon SX20 IS includes a modest resolution electronic viewfinder and a fully articulated 2.5" LCD with 230k dots - small but versatile. Canon’s articulation is a boon for low-angle landscape shots or awkward angles.

Samsung ST80 replaces an EVF with a larger 3" fixed touchscreen (also 230k dots) supporting touch autofocus and menus, catering to casual users who prefer direct interaction.

Here’s a side-by-side screen view comparison:

User experience: I appreciated Canon’s articulation and EVF during bright daylight or when needing stable framing. Samsung’s touchscreen speeds up creative framing but is cumbersome for prolonged shooting without the option of a viewfinder, leading to stray camera shake from holding the LCD further from the body.

Optical Versatility: Lens and Zoom Performance

Canon boasts a superzoom range of 28-560mm equivalent (20x zoom) with a maximum aperture range of f/2.8-5.7. This is exceptional given the fixed lens nature - perfect for shooting everything from landscapes to distant wildlife.

Samsung’s ST80 sports a much more modest 35-105mm (3x zoom) lens at f/3.3-5.5, better tailored for casual portraits and everyday snapshots but not prolonged telephoto needs.

Professional insight: I tested the Canon at longer focal lengths and appreciated the image stabilization and reasonably sharp results up to about 400mm. Beyond that, expect softness due to the small sensor and lens limitations. Samsung’s lens provides moderate wide-to-portrait reach but obviously can’t compete in versatility.

Autofocus Performance and Speed

Autofocus systems differ fundamentally: Canon uses a 9-point AF system with contrast detection and offers single AF but no continuous AF or tracking. Samsung’s contrast detection AF has touch focus, with a center AF point and multi-area options.

In practice: Due to the Canon's slower continuous shooting speed (1 FPS) and no AF tracking, it’s less effective for fast-action like sports or wildlife, despite the large zoom. Samsung’s AF is quick for static scenes but not geared to tracking fast subjects either.

Photography Use Cases Breakdown

Let’s look at how each camera fares across key photography genres:

Portrait Photography

• Canon: The wide zoom and f/2.8 aperture at 28mm lets you get decent background separation, although the small sensor inherently limits bokeh quality and natural skin tone rendition is good thanks to Canon’s color science.
• Samsung: Limited zoom range and smaller aperture make bokeh less prominent. The touchscreen AF is user-friendly for casual portraits but lacks face detection, giving Canon the edge in precision.

Landscape Photography

• Canon: 12MP resolution and wider zoom range beneficial. The articulated screen aids composition from challenging heights or low angles. Weather sealing is missing, so caution outdoors.
• Samsung: Higher resolution sensor helps get detailed landscapes but narrow zoom limits framing. Fixed LCD and no weather sealing reduce versatility outdoors.

Wildlife Photography

• Canon: Advantageous zoom range but slow AF and 1 FPS continuous shooting restrict capture of fast wildlife moments.
• Samsung: Little telephoto reach and less responsive AF make it impractical here.

Sports Photography

• Neither camera ideal due to limited burst speed and tracking. Canon’s superzoom lens can help with distant shots but you’ll likely miss peak action.

Street Photography

• Samsung: Pocketable size and quiet operation suited for street candid moments.
• Canon: Bulkier but articulated screen may help discreet low shots.

Macro Photography

• Samsung’s 5cm macro focus is usable for casual close-ups; Canon’s 0cm macro range claimed but effective working distance is practically about 1m due to lens constraints.

Night and Astro Photography

• Both cameras’ small sensors struggle with noise at ISO levels above 400. Neither supports RAW, limiting post-processing options. Canon’s DIGIC 4 noise reduction is a slight advantage.

Video Capabilities in Review

Both handle HD video at 720p/30fps - Canon uses H.264 encoding, Samsung records in Motion JPEG. Neither supports 4K or advanced video features like microphone inputs or stabilization modes beyond optical.

Real world: Canon’s video is smoother with better compression, while Samsung’s files are larger and quality lower. Both are more “snapshot” movie makers than serious video tools.

Battery Life and Storage Options

• Canon SX20 IS: Uses four AA batteries, readily available but heavier and more expensive over time.
• Samsung ST80: Proprietary BP70A lithium-ion battery, compact but requires recharging infrastructure.

Storage for both is through SD/SDHC cards; Samsung also offers internal and microSD slots.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

Neither camera offers weather sealing or shockproofing. Canon’s robust bridge body feels more rugged compared to Samsung’s ultra-light plastic shell.

Connectivity Features

Surprisingly, neither camera has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS - standard in retro models of their age.

Price-to-Performance Overview

At launch, Canon’s ~$500 price positioned it as a premium enthusiast choice providing superzoom value. The Samsung ST80’s ~$250 price made it an affordable take-anywhere option for casual photographers.

Sample Images and Image Quality Side-by-Side

To properly compare image fidelity, here is a gallery with direct side-by-side samples from both:

Canon SX20 IS front Canon SX20 IS screen back Samsung ST80 front Samsung ST80 screen back

Interpretation: Canon images tend to have more natural colors in varied lighting, Samsung sometimes appears oversharpened but more detailed in good light. Noise sets in more quickly for Samsung under low-light.

Overall Performance Summary

Below is an expert rating summary across critical performance parameters:

Deep Dive: Genre-Specific Scoring

This detailed genre-specific breakdown reveals where each camera truly shines or falls short:

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Choose the Canon SX20 IS if:

• You want versatile focal length coverage with a superzoom lens for travel, wildlife, or casual zoom needs.
• You prioritize physical controls and a more traditional DSLR-like handling experience.
• Most interested in optical viewfinder option and articulated LCD for varied shooting angles.
• You can accept slower continuous shooting and moderate image quality.

Choose the Samsung ST80 if:

• You want an ultra-compact camera that fits in a pocket easily for street and travel photography.
• You prefer touchscreen control with basic but effective image quality.
• You are budget-conscious and want a straightforward camera for everyday shots.
• Portability beats zoom range or advanced controls for you.

Final Thoughts From a Seasoned Reviewer

Having personally tested these cameras in varied conditions, I can confidently say that Canon SX20 IS remains the better all-around camera for enthusiasts who want single-camera flexibility, controllability, and a robust zoom. The Samsung ST80 is best seen as a super-slim carry-around snapshot tool rather than a serious photographic instrument.

Neither camera competes with today’s mirrorless or high-end compact models, especially lacking RAW support and advanced AF. However, understanding their role and compromises reveals valuable insights into camera usability and evolution.

If you’re after experience-driven advice: buy depending on your priority - control and zoom (Canon), or portability and ease (Samsung). Both cameras teach us valuable lessons in balancing form, function, and image quality.

Thank you for joining me in this detailed journey through two unique camera designs. For more expert-packed comparisons and hands-on testing, feel free to browse my articles or reach out with questions.

Happy shooting!