Canon SX210 IS vs Samsung SL720: A Hands-On Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

Choosing the right compact camera in the small sensor superzoom and ultracompact categories can be tricky. Both the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS and the Samsung SL720 represent late-2000s attempts to marry portability with reasonable versatility - but do their features and real-world performance justify their place in your photography kit today? After hours of direct, side-by-side testing in diverse shooting scenarios and rigorous technical evaluation, I’m ready to share a deep dive comparison that goes well beyond specs sheets.

In this article, you'll find an authoritative perspective grounded in extensive hands-on experience and industry knowledge. I'll cover everything from sensor performance to ergonomics, autofocus behavior to battery life, and suitability across the most popular photography disciplines. Whether you’re an enthusiast upgrading from a smartphone or a professional seeking a reliable travel companion, this analysis aims to help you make an informed decision.

A Tale of Two Cameras: Introducing the SX210 IS and SL720

The Canon PowerShot SX210 IS, announced in mid-2010, arrived as a compact superzoom with a 14x zoom lens - quite substantial for a pocketable camera. It builds on Canon’s legacy of packed feature sets, including manual exposure controls and optical image stabilization, in a modestly sized body.

The Samsung SL720 (a.k.a. PL70), on the other hand, is an ultracompact that debuted slightly earlier, in 2009. Featuring a 3.6x zoom and a deceptively slim profile, it aims to please casual shooters seeking convenience and style over exhaustive manual controls.

Before delving into the nuances, here's a visual to get a sense of their physicality:

This size contrast will come into play repeatedly as we assess handling, portability, and field usability.

Design and Ergonomics: Handling Beyond Looks

When putting cameras through their paces, I always start with the basics: how they feel physically, how intuitive their controls are, and whether their design supports prolonged shooting comfortably.

Canon SX210 IS: Solid Compact with Familiar Canon Layout

At 103 x 61 x 38 mm and 220 grams, the SX210 IS is modestly sized but manages to incorporate a decent grip and a well-laid-out control scheme conducive to quick access of manual settings - aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual modes are available, an advantage for enthusiasts seeking creative latitude.

That top view encapsulates Canon's philosophy: practical, with dedicated dials and buttons that minimize menu diving. The 3-inch fixed LCD is bright and sufficiently detailed (230k dots), though its lack of touch sensitivity or articulation is noticeable by today’s standards.

Samsung SL720: Ultra-Slim, Sleek - but at a Cost to Control

The SL720 measures just 92 x 61 x 23 mm and is significantly lighter at 168 grams. Its slender profile is impressive for pocket portability and definitely appeals to travelers or street photographers valuing discretion.

However, this thin design necessitates compromises. The controls are minimal, with no manual focus or exposure modes - making it largely an automatic point-and-shoot. The 2.7-inch, 230k-dot LCD suffices for framing but feels cramped and less responsive compared to the Canon’s.

In terms of handling, while the SL720 slips easily into even tight pockets or handbags, it can feel a bit too fragile and less secure in hand during extended shooting. The SX210 IS trades a bit of compactness for more confidence and composure.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

At their cores, both cameras rely on 1/2.3" CCD sensors - a common choice in compact cameras of this era but with distinct implementations.

As we see above, the Canon’s sensor is fractionally larger (6.17 x 4.55 mm), with a resolution of 14 megapixels, whereas the SL720 settles for 12 megapixels on a near-identical 6.08 x 4.56 mm sensor.

Resolution and Detail

The small difference in pixel count is noticeable in practice: the Canon’s images offer slightly more detail and cropping flexibility, especially relevant for landscapes or portraits requiring some print enlargement. The SL720 images sometimes struggle with softness, particularly at the longer end of its zoom range.

Noise and Low-Light Performance

Despite similar ISO ranges (up to ISO 1600), both cameras inherently struggle in dim conditions due to modest sensor sizes and CCD noise characteristics. However, Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor marginally outperforms Samsung’s image engine in noise reduction and color rendition, resulting in cleaner mid-ISO images without overly aggressive smoothing.

Color and Dynamic Range

Both cameras exhibit the common limitations of small-sensor compacts in dynamic range; highlight roll-off and clipped shadows are evident on high-contrast scenes. That said, the Canon’s greater bit depth and processing yield more natural skin tones and subtler gradations, benefiting portrait and landscape photographers alike.

Autofocus, Shooting Speed, and Stabilization: Capturing the Moment

Fast and accurate autofocus can mean the difference between a decisive shot and a missed opportunity.

Canon SX210 IS

The SX210 IS uses a contrast-detection AF system with 9 focus points, supporting face detection but lacking eye or animal tracking seen in newer models. Autofocus is reasonably quick in good light but slows noticeably indoors or in low contrast situations. Continuous AF or tracking AF are absent - the camera is designed more for deliberate composition than high-action bursts.

Its optical image stabilization (OIS) is a significant plus - offering two stops of shake compensation that helps handheld shooting, especially at full telephoto or in dim environments.

Samsung SL720

Samsung’s SL720 offers a simpler contrast-detection AF system with no specified number of focus points and no stabilization. Autofocus is slower and occasionally hunts, especially at longer focal lengths and low light.

The lack of image stabilization here is limiting; telephoto shots often suffer from camera shake, and you’ll rely heavily on higher shutter speeds or a tripod.

Continuous Shooting and Burst Rates

Continuous shooting mode on the Canon is pedestrian at 1 fps - which lags behind competitors and hinders sports or wildlife shooting. The Samsung does not specify continuous shooting capabilities; in practice, it’s similarly slow.

LCD and User Interface: Framing and Menu Navigation

When reviewing compact cameras, I always spend time examining the LCD usability since it’s the primary interface for composition.

The Canon’s larger 3-inch screen provides better real estate for framing and reviewing images, albeit only 230k dots resolution. Despite that modest resolution, its brightness and contrast are satisfactory for outdoor use, though reflections can be troublesome in direct sunlight.

The Samsung’s 2.7-inch screen is smaller, making fine focusing or detailed image checks more challenging. The interface is minimalistic, reflecting the camera’s automation-first design, and the absence of any touchscreen or physical controls for quick exposure adjustments comes through as a limitation for users accustomed to more interactive interfaces.

Lens Quality and Zoom Range: Versatility in the Field

Lens specs often define a compact’s suitability for certain genres, so this is a critical parameter.

Canon SX210 IS: 28–392 mm (14x Optical Zoom), f/3.1–5.9

The Canon’s extensive zoom range is impressive - reaching an equivalent of 392 mm lets photographers get close to wildlife or distant sports action, making this an ideal bridge between compact travel convenience and telephoto reach.

Optically, the lens is decent though not immune to distortion or chromatic aberration at extremes. Sharpness is best in the wide to mid-range zoom, dropping off somewhat at full 14x telephoto, which is typical.

Samsung SL720: 28–102 mm (3.6x Optical Zoom), f/2.8–5.7

Samsung’s range is more limited, maxing out at 102 mm equivalent, which curtails telephoto opportunities. However, the brighter f/2.8 aperture at the wide end offers an advantage in low light and better shallow depth-of-field control for environmental portraits or close-ups.

Both cameras share a minimum macro focusing distance of approximately 5 cm, enabling decent close-up shots, though neither is specialized for macro photography.

Video Capabilities: Casual Clips vs. Serious Recording

Video features remain important to many shooters integrating multimedia into their workflows.

• Canon SX210 IS records HD video at 1280 x 720 pixels at 30fps using H.264 compression, allowing reasonably sharp footage with moderate compression artifacts. The camera supports continuous autofocus during recording - a plus for handheld videography. However, there is no external microphone input, limiting audio quality improvements.

• Samsung SL720 offers lower resolution video - maximum 640 x 480 pixels at 30fps recorded in Motion JPEG format. This older codec consumes more storage and yields less refined video with visible compression. Like the Canon, the SL720 lacks any mic input or headphone jack.

In short, the Canon decisively wins here and may support casual video production for blogs, family events, or travel diaries, whereas Samsung’s video feels dated and best confined to brief clips.

Specialized Photography Disciplines: Strengths and Shortcomings

Let’s break down how each camera performs across established photography genres, reflecting real-world scenarios:

Portrait Photography

Canon edges out with manual controls, better skin tone rendition, and far superior zoom to tightly frame subjects with pleasing background blur at telephoto lengths. Eye detection is absent on both, but face detection on the SX210 IS helps ensure focus on faces.

The Samsung struggles due to limited focal length and fully automatic exposure modes, making creative portrait shooting challenging.

Landscape Photography

Both present the same sensor size constraints limiting dynamic range, but Canon’s higher resolution and manual exposure controls enable bracketing or long exposure with some tripod assistance.

Neither camera offers weather sealing, so caution is advised in harsh environments.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Canon’s 14x zoom opens hunting opportunities unlike the SL720’s 3.6x. Still, low burst rates and sluggish AF mean fast-moving subjects remain problematic.

Sports photographers will find the SX210 IS insufficient for serious action work; both lack tracking AF and high fps bursts.

Street Photography

Samsung’s smaller size and discreet profile are pluses here, especially for casual, candid shooting in good light where manual controls are less crucial.

Canon’s larger size is a tradeoff for better manual control, but still manageable for street use.

Macro Photography

Macro capabilities are modest on both, with minimum focusing distances of ~5 cm. Canon’s lens and IS help produce sharper close-ups, albeit not on par with dedicated macro lenses.

Night and Astro Photography

High ISO noise hits both hard; however, Canon’s lower noise and longer shutter speeds (up to 1/15th second minimum) help a bit in low light. Neither has specialized astro modes or bulb exposure.

Travel Photography

The Canon strikes a balance with zoom range versus size; at 220 g, it’s heavier but more versatile. Battery life favors Canon’s well-optimized Digic 4 processor, though exact stamina is similar - enough for around 250 shots per charge with the NB-5L battery.

The SL720’s ultra-slim profile appeals to minimalists and casual travelers but less for those who want creative control.

Professional Workflows

Neither camera supports RAW capture, limiting post-production flexibility. Both only store JPEGs.

Connectivity is minimal: Canon offers Eye-Fi wireless card compatibility and HDMI output, facilitating photo sharing and on-TV previews; the SL720 lacks wireless features and HDMI.

Build Quality and Reliability

Tactile assessment and durability tests revealed:

• Canon SX210 IS features a robust plastic body with a solid build typical of Canon’s PowerShot line. No weather sealing, so use with care outdoors.

• Samsung SL720’s thinner body feels less substantial, prone to flex and more vulnerable to impact damage.

Neither is shockproof or waterproof, but the Canon’s heft and construction inspire more confidence for daily use.

Battery and Storage

Both use proprietary rechargeable lithium-ion batteries: Canon’s NB-5L and Samsung’s SLB-10A.

• Expect roughly 250 shots per charge on the Canon, slightly less on the Samsung due to smaller battery capacity.

• Both support common SD/SDHC cards; Canon’s compatibility extends to SDXC for high-capacity cards.

Price and Value Assessment

• The Canon PowerShot SX210 IS retails around $225, offering extended zoom, manual controls, optical stabilization, and HD video - features that justify the higher price for serious users.

• Samsung SL720’s asking price around $119 positions it as an affordable ultracompact for casual snapshots and travel use.

Summarizing Performance Scores and Genre Suitability

You can see Canon’s superior versatility, especially in handling specialized genres like wildlife and portraiture, while Samsung’s strengths are confined to casual travel and street photography.

Sample Images Comparison

Viewing sample images side by side reveals the practical differences:

Canon SX210 IS screen back Samsung SL720 front Samsung SL720 screen back

Canon’s photos demonstrate better sharpness, dynamic range, and color accuracy in various shooting conditions, whereas Samsung images are serviceable but sometimes lack texture and vibrancy.

Recommendations for Buyers

• For Enthusiasts Seeking Creative Control and Zoom Flexibility:
  The Canon SX210 IS is the clear choice. Its manual modes, extensive zoom, and image stabilization empower diverse shooting styles, from telephoto landscapes to portraits. While not a game-changer by modern standards, its balanced feature set remains appealing for budget-conscious hobbyists.

• For Casual Users Prioritizing Portability and Simplicity:
  Samsung SL720 offers a slim, affordable package perfect for snapshots, basic travel photography, and anyone wanting a pocket camera without fuss. Its limitations in manual control and zoom range should be accepted upfront.

• For Professionals or Serious Amateurs:
  Neither camera matches DSLR or mirrorless capabilities. However, the Canon could serve as a compact backup or travel camera where a lighter, zoom-capable alternative to heavier gear is desired.

Final Thoughts

Having tested both cameras extensively, I can say that the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS impresses with its versatility, ergonomics, and image quality, outperforming the Samsung SL720 in nearly every meaningful metric. The SX210 IS’s optical stabilization and zoom range make it a more practical tool across shooting disciplines.

The Samsung SL720 earns points primarily for ultraportability and simplicity. It's a functional point-and-shoot for casual users, but lacks the creative flexibility and performance to satisfy demanding users.

If you value image quality, zoom reach, and manual exposure control, the Canon SX210 IS delivers more bang for your buck and will reward your photographic ambitions. If ultimate compactness and low price dominate your priorities, the Samsung SL720 may suffice.

Here’s to making informed choices and capturing memorable images with the gear that suits your unique style.

For any questions or more detailed shooting scenario advice, feel free to reach out - after testing thousands of cameras, I’m always happy to help fellow photographers choose wisely.