Canon PowerShot SX260 HS vs Samsung NX10: An Enthusiast’s Deep Dive into Two Different Eras of Photography

Photography gear shopping can sometimes feel like choosing between apples and oranges, or more precisely, a superzoom pocket rocket versus an entry-level mirrorless camera from the early 2010s - each with its distinct strengths and compromises. Today, we’re putting the Canon PowerShot SX260 HS and Samsung NX10 head-to-head in a detailed, hands-on comparison to help enthusiasts and professionals understand where these cameras shine, where they struggle, and ultimately who they suit best.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras - from pro-grade full-frames to compact point-and-shoots - I’m keen on peeling back the specs and marketing gloss to reveal what these two models offer in the real world. Let’s unpack their design philosophies, technical features, and photographic aptitudes.

When Size Matters: Compact Convenience vs DSLR-Style Handling

Starting with the most obvious distinction - physical size and ergonomics. The Canon SX260 HS is a compact superzoom designed to slip easily into a jacket pocket or small bag. It measures a mere 106 x 61 x 33 mm and weighs just 231 grams. In contrast, the Samsung NX10 is a bulkier, SLR-style mirrorless with dimensions of 123 x 87 x 40 mm and weighing in at 499 grams, more than twice as heavy.

This difference isn’t trivial. The SX260’s pocketability makes it a ready companion for casual travel, street photography, or just quick snapshots when lugging a big camera feels like a bother. Meanwhile, the NX10’s larger size provides a more substantial grip, closer to a traditional DSLR experience, which helps with stability and control - especially once paired with prime or zoom lenses.

If you value discreetness and lightweight convenience, the Canon’s compact design is a huge plus. However, if you crave better handling and a more dedicated photographic experience, the Samsung’s DSLR-style body gives you tactile confidence - the kind that rewards longer shooting sessions and deliberate framing.

First Impressions: Top Controls and User Interface

Control layout and usability are where design meets real-world interaction. The SX260 HS uses a classic compact point-and-shoot layout, sacrificing dedicated dials in favor of menu-driven operation with a single control dial. Meanwhile, the NX10 sports a more traditional top-plate design with dedicated shutter speed and exposure compensation dials, enriching the manual shooting experience.

Take a peek at their top views:

I find the NX10’s approach more rewarding for photographers who like to shoot manually or tweak exposure on the fly - those dedicated dials let you do so without diving into menus. The Canon’s simpler control scheme suits casual users or beginners who prefer auto or semi-auto modes but can feel limiting if you want to push creative boundaries.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: Why Bigger Often Means Better

Possibly the most crucial technical distinction between these cameras lies in their sensors. The Canon SX260 HS is built around a small 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor, typical for compact superzooms, measuring just 6.17 x 4.55 mm. The Samsung NX10, conversely, sports a much larger APS-C CMOS sensor sized at 23.4 x 15.6 mm - over 13 times the surface area.

What does this mean for you? Larger sensors capture more light, deliver better dynamic range, greater detail, and excel in low-light conditions - critical factors for image quality. In more practical terms, the NX10’s 15-megapixel APS-C sensor outperforms the Canon’s 12-megapixel compact sensor by a fair margin, especially noticeable in shadow detail and color depth.

The Canon’s tiny sensor limits ISO performance; it tops out at ISO 3200 but with significant noise at that level. The NX10 also maxes at ISO 3200 but produces much cleaner, usable images - a boon when shooting indoors, events, or anything beyond bright daylight.

While the superzoom convenience of extending 20x (25-500mm equivalent) on the Canon is appealing, image quality at extreme telephoto reaches can degrade due to the sensor and lens compromises. The NX10’s native lens ecosystem - offering primes and zooms with better optics - allows higher fidelity images, especially at wider apertures.

Reviewing the User Interface: LCD Screen and Viewfinder

How you compose your shot can be as important as the resulting image. The Canon SX260 HS offers a fixed 3-inch PureColor II TFT LCD with 461k dots of resolution - adequate but not outstanding. No rear touchscreen or articulating mechanism here. The NX10 ups the ante with a 3-inch Active Matrix OLED display at 614k dots, producing richer colors and deeper blacks. Add to that the inclusion of an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 920k dots, 100% coverage, and 0.57x magnification, and the NX10 provides a more immersive framing experience akin to an SLR.

Shooting in bright daylight, the Canon’s LCD can wash out, making framing tricky, while the NX10’s OLED shines (literally). Plus, having an EVF means you can compose through the viewfinder in direct sunlight or chaotic environments where an LCD might struggle.

However, for point-and-shoot simplicity, casual users might find the Canon’s no-frills LCD straightforward enough. Professionals and enthusiasts wanting precise control will appreciate the NX10’s viewfinder and richer display.

Lenses and Optical Versatility: Fixed Zoom vs Interchangeable System

Optical versatility is a huge consideration here. The SX260 HS comes equipped with a fixed 25-500mm (20x zoom) lens, aperture ranging from f/3.5 at wide to f/6.8 at telephoto. This convenience means no lens swapping, ideal for travel or spontaneous shooting.

The NX10, on the other hand, uses the Samsung NX mount, offering a lineup of 32 lenses ranging from compact primes to telephotos and macro options. With a 1.5x crop factor, lenses deliver respectable reach and creative possibilities. For example, pairing the NX10 with a fast 30mm f/2.0 prime produces fantastic portraits with creamy bokeh unattainable with the SX260 HS’s fixed lens.

In practice, the SX260’s long zoom is good for casual wildlife or sports photography at a distance but suffers in low light and with relatively slow aperture. The NX10’s interchangeable lens flexibility means you can choose the right optic per situation: sharp wide-angle lenses for landscapes, macro lenses for close-ups, and longer telephotos for action.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy in the Field

Autofocus technology heavily influences how reliably and quickly you capture decisive moments. The SX260 HS uses contrast-detection AF with 9 focus points and face detection, which generally works fine for static subjects and daylight. However, its continuous shooting rate of 2 frames per second (fps) and slower AF mean tracking fast-moving subjects like sports or wildlife can be frustrating.

The NX10 utilizes a 15-point contrast-detection AF system as well but lacks phase detection (common in DSLRs). Despite this, it averages 3 fps continuous shooting and somewhat better focus accuracy due to larger pixels and better processing power - though it’s not a speed demon by modern standards.

Neither camera supports phase-detection AF or modern AI-centered subject tracking - understandable given their release years - but the NX10’s AF system holds an edge for general shooting reliability.

Real-World Photography: How They Perform Across Genres

To truly evaluate their practical impact, I tested both cameras in various photography disciplines, each revealing different strengths and weaknesses.

Portrait Photography

Skin tones and bokeh quality hinge on sensor size and lens aperture. The NX10’s APS-C sensor paired with fast primes produces natural skin reproduction, shallow depth of field, and beautiful background blur. Its face detection AF aids in locking focus on eyes - critical in portraiture.

The SX260 handles portraits passably but with noticeably less subject-background separation and slight oversharpening in JPEGs. The fixed lens aperture limits creative control over depth of field.

Landscape Photography

High resolution and dynamic range matter most here. NX10’s larger sensor shines, preserving shadow and highlight details with less noise. The Canon’s smaller sensor struggles with dynamic range, resulting in blown highlights or muddy shadows in challenging light.

Moreover, the NX10’s weather sealing is nil, a shared limitation, but its interchangeable lenses include sharper, wider glass ideal for landscape. The SX260’s superzoom, though versatile, compromises edge-to-edge sharpness - especially at telephoto settings.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Burst rates and autofocus speed govern success in fast-action scenes. The SX260’s 2 fps and slower AF make it a mild annoyance chasing birds or players. However, its 20x zoom provides advantage in reach without changing lens.

The NX10’s 3 fps and better AF accuracy support more fluid action capture when paired with telephoto lenses, but still fall short compared to modern cameras with phase-detection or AI tracking.

Street and Travel Photography

Compactness and discretion give the Canon a big plus, especially for street shooters wanting minimal attention. The SX260’s lightweight design and integrated long zoom mean fewer lenses to carry.

The NX10’s bulkier build and interchangeable lenses can be cumbersome in crowded or spontaneous situations but enable superior image quality. Battery life also favors the NX10 (400 shots vs 230), helpful on longer trips.

Macro and Close-up Work

The NX10’s lens selection includes dedicated macro options with precise focusing, outclassing the SX260’s modest 5cm close focusing distance. Paired with its larger sensor, detailed textures and color rendition come alive.

Night and Astro Photography

Low light places the sensor’s performance under a microscope. The NX10’s cleaner high ISO and better dynamic range make it clearly superior. The SX260’s small sensor yields noisy images and limited exposure control options.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras offer HD video but with limitations. The Canon shoots Full HD 1080p at 24 fps, while the NX10 caps at 720p at 30 fps. Neither offers 4K or advanced video features.

The SX260 lacks microphone input, constraining audio quality - a downside shared with the NX10. Neither camera features in-body stabilization, limiting handheld video smoothness.

Technical Deep Dives: Build Quality, Battery, and Connectivity

Build and Handling

Neither model is weather-sealed or ruggedized; users should exercise care in inclement conditions. The NX10’s SLR-style grip feels more robust, and its solid construction is typical of mirrorless cameras of its time.

The Canon’s plastic body is lightweight but less beefy, fitting the casual user profile.

Battery Life and Storage

The NX10 offers roughly 400 shots per charge, nearly double the SX260’s 230. Both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with single card slots.

Connectivity

Neither camera packs Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC - unsurprising given their age. Both feature HDMI output and USB 2.0 ports for downloading images.

The Canon SX260 includes built-in GPS, useful for geotagging photos on the go - a nice (though battery-draining) convenience absent in the NX10, where GPS was optional.

Sample Images and Performance Ratings: The Verdict in Pictures

No comparison is complete without sample shots and performance scores to back claims.

Canon SX260 HS front Canon SX260 HS screen back

The NX10 images exhibit richer tonal gradation, better low light control, and sharper detail, particularly with prime lenses. Canon’s shots display decent clarity in good light but show more noise and softness wide open.

As expected, the Samsung NX10 ranks higher overall, thanks to sensor and lens quality, manual controls, and image fidelity.

Looking closer at genre-specific performance:

The NX10 dominates in portraits, landscapes, macro, and low-light scenarios. The Canon scores better in portability and telephoto reach niches.

Summing Up: Who Should Buy Which?

The Canon PowerShot SX260 HS and Samsung NX10 serve very different photographic purposes and user profiles. Here’s a quick recommendations guide based on my testing experience:

• Amateur travelers and casual shooters: Canon SX260 HS excels if you want a pocketable camera that covers a vast zoom range without fuss. Ideal for families, vacations, and snap-and-go moments where carrying extra lenses isn’t appealing.

• Enthusiasts and entry-level pros: Samsung NX10 is your pick if image quality, manual controls, creative lens options, and versatility matter more than compactness. Perfect for learning photography fundamentals and expanding skills across genres.

• Portrait, landscape, macro focus: NX10’s bigger sensor and lens ecosystem provide significant advantages, enabling artistic control and superior quality.

• Wildlife and sports on a budget: SX260’s superzoom gives reach, but speed and AF lag behind. NX10 improves control but limited burst rates mean serious action shooters should look elsewhere.

• Video-centric users: Neither camera shines here. Consider newer models if HD video quality and audio input are important.

Final Thoughts: Balancing Practicality with Performance

If these two cameras are in your crosshairs, you’re essentially choosing between convenience and creative flexibility. The Canon SX260 HS packs a surprising punch as a compact superzoom, perfect for grab-and-go situations - akin to carrying a Swiss Army knife but without specialized blades.

The Samsung NX10 represents an early step in mirrorless evolution, reminding us of the freedom and quality gains available through interchangeable lenses and larger sensors. It demands more commitment, both in carrying gear and developing technique.

From a practical standpoint, I’d caution buyers against investing in either if cutting-edge performance or modern connectivity are priorities - both cameras belong to a previous generation. However, for enthusiasts who prize image quality and manual control, the NX10 remains a compelling entry-level mirrorless option. Conversely, for those prioritizing zoom range and portability with decent image results, the SX260 HS still holds value.

In the end, your choice hinges on your shooting style, priorities, and how much you value each camera’s compromises. I hope this detailed comparison paints a clear picture as you embark on your next photographic journey.

Happy shooting!