Canon SX40 HS vs Samsung CL5

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Canon SX40 HS and Samsung CL5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Canon and Samsung. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the SX40 HS (12MP) and CL5 (9MP) and the SX40 HS (1/2.3") and CL5 (1/2.5") possess different sensor size.

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The SX40 HS was released 2 years after the CL5 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX40 HS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Samsung CL5 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SX40 HS scores vs the CL5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SX40 HS & Samsung CL5. The complete galleries are available at Canon SX40 HS Gallery & Samsung CL5 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Canon SX40 HS has physical dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 108mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 4.3") accompanied by a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) while the Samsung CL5 has specifications of 93mm x 60mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.7") having a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX40 HS and Samsung CL5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SX40 HS and the CL5.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX40 HS and CL5 is 64 and 95 respectively.

Quite often, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizes just by looking at a spec sheet. The pic underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SX40 HS and CL5.

As you can see, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SX40 HS featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Canon SX40 HS will give you extra detail as a result of its extra 3MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more modern SX40 HS provides an edge in sensor innovation.