Canon PowerShot SX270 HS vs Samsung PL200: The Definitive Camera Comparison

Choosing the right camera can be a daunting task, especially when sifting through detailed specs and marketing jargon. Today, we put two compact cameras under our expert lens - Canon PowerShot SX270 HS and Samsung PL200 - to help you make a well-informed decision. Both fall into the approachable compact category but target slightly different user needs and priorities. Having meticulously tested hundreds of cameras over 15 years, we’ll break down how these two models perform in various photography disciplines, highlight their key strengths and trade-offs, and ultimately point you toward the best fit for your creative photography goals.

A Hands-On Look: Size, Build & Handling

Right off the bat, physical handling plays a huge role in your shooting comfort - especially for long photo sessions or travel. Let’s dive into what you can expect from the Canon SX270 HS and Samsung PL200 in terms of ergonomics.

Canon PowerShot SX270 HS

• Dimensions: 106 x 63 x 33 mm
• Weight: 233 g (with battery and card)
• Solid, compact body with a textured grip for more confidence in hand
• Fixed lens extends significantly, but body remains reasonably pocketable
• Intuitive top control layout that encourages quick access to common settings

Samsung PL200

• Dimensions: 100 x 60 x 21 mm
• Weight: 170 g (with battery and card)
• Sleeker, slimmer ultra-compact design ideal for discreet carry
• Smaller lens barrel limits telephoto reach but aids portability
• Minimalist button design may require more menu diving for exposure adjustments

Both cameras embrace a classic compact stance, but the Samsung edges out the Canon for portability due to a thinner profile and lighter weight. However, the Canon’s more pronounced grip and ergonomic contours enhance handling, especially when zoomed in or shooting handheld for extended periods.

Our tactile experience confirmed the Canon SX270 HS feels more deliberate and camera-like, while the PL200 leans toward a casual snapshot vibe.

Interface & Controls: How Do They Respond to Your Creative Touch?

Camera controls directly affect your workflow, pace of shooting, and ultimately the joy of capturing your vision.

• Canon SX270 HS offers dedicated dials for aperture and shutter priority modes, exposure compensation buttons, and easily accessible zoom and playback controls - all critical for photographers wanting greater creative freedom without menu detours.
• Samsung PL200 skips manual modes entirely and relies on automatic exposure. It offers basic custom white balance but lacks programmable buttons or exposure compensation, which could frustrate enthusiast users who want more control.

Significantly, the Canon provides a 3.0-inch LCD screen with a 461k-dot resolution that delivers bright, sharp previews. The PL200’s 3.0-inch display has a lower 230k-dot resolution, resulting in less clarity and poorer visibility in sunlight. Neither camera features a viewfinder, so LCD quality is paramount.

Sensor and Image Quality: Under the Hood

Understanding the sensor technology is key to gauging potential image quality. Both cameras feature the common 1/2.3-inch sensor size, but that’s where the similarity ends.

Practical Insights

The Canon’s BSI CMOS sensor offers notable advantages over the older CCD sensor in the Samsung PL200. BSI (Backside Illuminated) sensors increase light gathering efficiency, translating to cleaner images with less noise at higher ISO sensitivities. This is crucial for low-light shooting, night photography, and indoor scenes.

Despite the Samsung’s higher resolution count, the older CCD sensor technology tends to produce images with less dynamic range and more noise as ISO increases. In real-world tests, the Canon SX270 HS consistently produced sharper, cleaner shots in diverse lighting.

Lens & Zoom Capabilities: Reach Beyond Limits

If zoom range and versatility matter to you, the Canon easily wins this round.

The Canon’s 20x optical zoom provides much greater telephoto reach than the Samsung’s modest 7x zoom. This means you can capture distant wildlife, sports action, or details in landscapes far more effectively with the SX270 HS. Wider zoom ranges also increase versatility, a key asset for travel and day-to-day photography.

The downside of the longer zoom on the Canon is a slower maximum aperture at the telephoto end (f/6.8 vs. f/5.5 on the Samsung), which means it’ll be slightly less capable in low light at full zoom. Still, the integrated optical image stabilization on both models helps counteract camera shake.

Autofocus, Shooting Speed & Burst Performance

Your camera’s autofocus system directly impacts your ability to capture sharp images in unpredictable environments, especially for wildlife, sports, or street photography.

The Canon features face detection along with continuous autofocus tracking - both absent on the Samsung. This makes the Canon much better suited for subjects in motion, such as children, pets, or street scenes. The 4 frames per second burst speed on the Canon also aid capturing peak expressions or action sequences.

By contrast, the Samsung PL200’s autofocus is limited to single point contrast detection with no continuous tracking or face-detect capabilities, reflecting its design as a casual snapshot camera rather than a dynamic shooter.

Image Stabilization & Low-Light Performance

Both cameras offer optical image stabilization (OIS), a must-have for handheld shooting especially when using zoom or in low-light. The Canon’s latest Digic 6 processor and BSI sensor combo deliver superior high ISO results, extending usability into darker environments.

The Canon SX270 HS reaches a maximum ISO of 6400 with acceptable noise control, whereas the Samsung PL200 caps at ISO 3200 but produces more noticeable noise due to sensor limitations.

If you plan to do any night or astro photography, the Canon is clearly the better candidate, though don’t expect professional-grade results due to the small sensor size.

Video Recording Capabilities

Video is a vital feature for many users and greatly affects the camera's overall versatility.

The Canon shoots crisp, smooth Full HD video up to 60 fps, delivering impressive quality for vlogging, family moments, or light documentarian work. The Samsung video option is limited to VGA resolution (640x480), a compromise for casual users or video messaging.

Note that neither camera supports external microphone inputs, limiting audio upgrade options.

Battery Life & Storage Convenience

Battery life directly informs your shooting volume, a crucial factor for travel and day-long events.

• Canon SX270 HS uses a rechargeable NB-6L battery, rated for approximately 210 shots per charge - average for compacts with power-hungry zoom lenses.
• Samsung PL200 uses a BP70A battery with unspecified official shot count; real-world testing suggests slightly lower endurance compared to the Canon.

Both cameras support SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards (with the Samsung also accepting MMC cards), so storage flexibility isn’t a concern.

What About Build, Weather Resistance & Durability?

Neither camera offers weather sealing, dustproofing, or ruggedized features. For everyday casual shooting or moderate travel conditions, this is sufficient, but both models will require protection from rain, dust, or physical shocks.

Creative Photography Use Cases: How They Perform Across Genres

Understanding these cameras’ ability to excel in different photographic disciplines helps match your purchase to your creative ambitions.

Portrait Photography

• Canon SX270 HS: Features face detection and contrast-detection autofocus with continuous tracking, contributing to sharp focus on faces and eyes. The camera’s vari-angle zoom lens creates pleasing background separation, perfect for casual portrait bokeh.
• Samsung PL200: Lacks face detection and continuous autofocus, expecting you to rely on single-shot AF - less forgiving for capturing fleeting expressions. Lens max aperture slightly better on the wide end but limited in control.

Advantage: Canon, for more reliable subject tracking and creative control.

Landscape Photography

• Canon’s BSI CMOS sensor and 12MP resolution deliver vibrant images with reasonable dynamic range, capturing detail across shadows and highlights. Larger zoom range can capture details or layered compositions up close or far.
• Samsung produces higher resolution files (14MP), which at moderate ISOs look good but are limited by CCD’s lower dynamic range and increased noise in shadows.

Advantage: Canon, but Samsung offers slightly higher maximum image resolution.

Wildlife & Sports

• Canon’s 20x zoom, continuous AF, face detection, and 4 fps burst make it a decent option for wildlife or casual sports photography.
• Samsung lacks continuous AF and burst, and 7x zoom limits framing distant action.

Advantage: Canon, hands down.

Street Photography

• Samsung’s smaller size and lighter weight make it more discreet for street shooting, ideal for candid moments.
• Canon’s bulkier body and zoom can attract attention, but autofocus is more reliable for fast-moving street subjects.

Advantage: Depends on your preference - Samsung for stealth, Canon for performance.

Macro Photography

• Both achieve 5cm minimum focus distance, allowing close-up shots.
• Canon’s manual focus support can aid precise focusing; Samsung has none.
• Image stabilization helps achieve sharp details handheld.

Advantage: Canon, for manual focus control and stabilization.

Night & Astro Photography

• Canon’s higher ISO capability and BSI sensor paired with longer exposure shutter speeds provide reasonable low-light capability.
• Samsung’s CCD sensor and max ISO 3200 limits night use considerably.

Advantage: Canon, by a significant margin.

Video Capabilities

• Canon’s Full HD video at 60 fps with optical stabilization makes shooting smooth footage easier.
• Samsung supports only VGA video, not suitable for quality video content.

Advantage: Canon, no contest.

Travel Photography

• Samsung’s smaller, lighter frame suits minimalist travelers concerned with weight and pocketability.
• Canon’s versatile zoom and better low-light performance serve travelers wanting flexibility without hauling multiple lenses.

Advantage: Depends on travel style; Canon for versatility, Samsung for compactness.

Professional Use

• Neither camera supports RAW file capture, limiting post-processing control.
• Basic ergonomic design and lack of extensive customizability make both unsuitable as main pro tools.
• Suitable for casual, lightweight backup or social media content capture.

Advantage: Neither fit professional standards, though Canon’s better controls offer more creative freedom.

Canon SX270 HS front Canon SX270 HS screen back Samsung PL200 front Samsung PL200 screen back

Above: Sample image comparisons reveal Canon’s superior color fidelity and low-light performance, especially in shadow detail and noise.

Connectivity & Modern Features

Both models are from early 2010s, and neither offers wireless connectivity like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC, which are staples in current cameras for instant sharing and remote control.

• Canon SX270 HS does provide an HDMI port, facilitating easy playback on TVs or capture devices.
• Samsung PL200 lacks HDMI.

USB 2.0 connectivity for offloading files is standard on both but is relatively slow compared to modern USB standards.

Price & Value Assessment

Given their age, both are discontinued and mostly available used. The Canon SX270 HS offers better bang for your buck in almost all photographic capabilities, making it a worthwhile investment for entry-level enthusiasts.

Performance Scores Across Key Metrics

We compiled overall performance indices based on sensor capability, autofocus effectiveness, lens versatility, and usability:

Summary Table: Which Camera Excels Where?

Final Thoughts: Picking the Right Tool for Your Lens

Canon PowerShot SX270 HS is a feature-packed, versatile compact that bridges the gap between casual point-and-shoots and more serious photography tools. Its strong zoom, superior sensor, better autofocus, and Full HD video capabilities make it a compelling choice for enthusiasts starting to explore varied genres like wildlife, landscape, portraits, and travel photography.

Samsung PL200, by contrast, is aimed primarily at those who want a slim, ultra-portable camera for casual snapshots and holiday memories without the complexity of manual controls or video ambition.

If you seek creative control, expanded reach, and better image quality, the Canon SX270 HS is our clear recommendation. If discretion and compactness take precedence, and you mostly capture daylight-still casual scenes, the Samsung PL200 remains an affordable, fuss-free option you can pocket with ease.

Next Steps to Explore

• Try both models in person if possible. Handling and user experience are deeply personal.
• Consider upgrading lenses or accessories compatible with your preferred system (limitation here given fixed lenses).
• For budding photographers aiming for growth, pair the Canon SX270 HS with a tripod and external lighting to stretch creative possibilities.

Photography is a journey, and finding gear that excites and supports you is essential. Both cameras have a place, but aligned to your skill level, aspirations, and shooting scenarios, one will feel like a better partner on your photographic path.

Happy shooting!

This detailed comparison is brought to you by seasoned camera testers committed to demystifying technology and empowering your creativity.