Canon SX60 HS vs Samsung ST80: A Tale of Two Cameras from Different Eras and Ambitions

In the ever-evolving landscape of photography gear, sometimes looking back helps us appreciate how far technology has come - and why certain cameras still deserve a spot on your shelf or in your bag. Today, I’m rolling up my sleeves to compare two very different cameras that do share a thread of compact convenience but are separated by both generation and user intent: the 2014 Canon PowerShot SX60 HS and the 2010 Samsung ST80.

At first glance, the Canon SX60 HS is a powerhouse “bridge” camera equipped with an astonishing 65x optical zoom and a fully articulated screen, designed more than anything to be a versatile all-in-one shooter. Meanwhile, the Samsung ST80 is an ultracompact point-and-shoot, pocketable and simple, aimed at casual users craving an accessible but capable camera without all the fuss.

This article will unpack all their features, performance nuances, and real-world usability based on years of hands-on testing - peppered with personal workflow notes and some honest skepticism about marketing hyperbole. So whether you want a wildlife zoom beast or a sleek travel buddy for snapshots, you’ll know which fits best. Let’s dive in.

Size Matters - But How Much?

The first and most apparent difference is size and handling. The Canon SX60 HS is bulky - it’s a bridge camera after all, designed like a DSLR with a protruding lens barrel for its massive zoom range. The Samsung ST80, in stark contrast, is a lightweight ultracompact.

Here’s a side-by-side to give the sense of scale:

Holding the SX60 HS feels serious - comfortable, but definitely a two-handed operation. The grip is generous, and the wide zoom extends well beyond your hand’s reach. In contrast, the ST80 slips into a jacket pocket, weighing under 120 grams compared to the Canon’s hefty 650 grams.

I’ve tested both on travel expeditions: The Canon was a perfect companion for wildlife shoots in open parks, delivering reach and control, but it wasn’t my everyday carry. The Samsung worked wonders for unobtrusive street photography or family gatherings, disappearing into my pocket so I could capture candid moments without intimidation.

Ergonomically, the SX60 HS gets bonus points for dedicated buttons, though it lacks illuminated controls - a minor gripe if you shoot often in dim conditions. The ST80 leans on touchscreen controls exclusively, thanks to its minimalist top deck: a practical compromise given its form.

For visual reference, here’s a look at their top control layouts:

In summary: If you want portability and stealth, the ST80 wins hands down. For zoom and manual control flexibility, the SX60 HS is in a league of its own.

Peeking Behind the Sensor Curtain

Both cameras stack up as small sensor shooters with 1/2.3-inch sensors - not exactly full-frame or APS-C contenders, but respectable for their class and age. Here’s a technical comparison:

The Canon’s 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor has the edge over Samsung’s 14MP CCD when it comes to noise performance and dynamic range. Backside Illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensors capture more light, crucial for better low-light shooting and richer colors, while CCD sensors tend to struggle in dimmer scenarios and produce more noise at higher ISOs.

DXO Mark gave the SX60 HS a respectable 39 overall score, highlighting its decent color depth (~19.2 bits) and dynamic range (~10.1 EV at base ISO), which gives landscape and portraits some useful flexibility. The Samsung hasn’t been tested by DXO, likely due to its vintage status and more consumer-class positioning.

In practice, here’s what that means:

• Canon SX60 HS: Cleaner images with good tonal gradation, especially below ISO 800. Images retain fine details reasonably well. The 65x zoom sensor-chip combo allows composing distant subjects crisply, though there’s a softness creeping in at the far tele end - unavoidable with such extreme zooms.

• Samsung ST80: Performs adequately in good light but struggles with noise beyond ISO 400. Limited dynamic range causes highlight clipping in bright scenes - something landscape shooters will want to watch. The CCD sensor gives snapshots a somewhat “film-like” aesthetic, but the lack of RAW support hampers post-processing flexibility.

If image quality is priority, especially for print or intensive editing, the Canon’s sensor has it sewn up. The Samsung suffices for casual web and family albums.

Screens and Viewfinders: How You Frame Your Shot

A camera’s LCD is a crucial interface for both framing and reviewing photos. The Canon’s fully articulated 3-inch screen with 922K-dot resolution vastly outperforms the Samsung’s fixed 3-inch 230K-dot touchscreen in both clarity and usability.

In daylight or tricky angles, the Canon’s articulated screen lets you shoot creatively - low to the ground or overhead - while maintaining perfect visibility. The Samsung’s fixed screen can frustrate when bright sun washes out details, and while the touchscreen enables some direct control, it’s slow and sometimes unresponsive compared to modern standards.

The Canon also packs a 922K-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF), filling an important gap for those who prefer eye-level framing or shooting in bright light without squinting at LCD glare.

The Samsung ST80 notably lacks any EVF, so it’s all LCD or bust, which can be limiting given its LCD’s lower resolution and less effective anti-reflective coating.

For anyone serious about manual control, or shooting outdoors a lot, the Canon’s screen and EVF combo provide indispensable versatility; casual users may tolerate the Samsung’s simpler interface.

Autofocus, Zoom, and Shooting Performance

Lens and autofocus are next. The SX60 HS shocks with a mammoth 21-1365mm equivalent 65x zoom lens - ideal for spotting and framing wildlife or sports subjects from a distance. The ST80 offers a modest 35-105mm (3x zoom), suitable for typical snapshots and portraits.

Both cameras have fixed lenses (non-interchangeable), but their zoom breadth affects usability dramatically.

Autofocus systems differ too:

• Canon SX60 HS: Contrast-detection AF with 9 selectable focus points and face detection. It supports continuous AF tracking and selective AF, performing well in daylight and maintaining decent accuracy in lower light.

• Samsung ST80: A simpler contrast-detection system with center-weighted AF only, lacking face detection, continuous AF, or tracking. User experience bears out as noticeably slower focusing and more hunting in dim conditions.

The SX60 HS shutter speed options range from 15 seconds to 1/2000 seconds, allowing decent creative control like long exposures for night scenes or motion stopping. The ST80 maxes out at 1/1500 seconds with an 8-second min shutter speed - enough for casual use but restrictive for specialists.

Burst shooting reveals another gap: The Canon manages 6.4 fps shooting, which is surprisingly robust for a bridge camera and enables basic sports or wildlife action capture. The Samsung offers no continuous shooting mode, a reflection of its entry-level orientation.

Overall, the Canon dominates in core photography functionality, especially for fast or distant action.

Image Stabilization and Macro Abilities

Optical image stabilization is present in both, though naturally more critical in the Canon due to the long telephoto reach. The SX60 HS’s lens-shift type stabilization meaningfully counters handshake even at maximum zoom, critical for handheld wildlife or sporting shots.

The Samsung’s optical stabilization is less powerful, partly because its shorter zoom range makes stabilization less urgent.

Regarding macro, the Samsung can focus down to 5cm, enabling reasonably close-up detail shots, while the Canon mentions a 0cm macro range - which actually translates to being capable of focusing very close, presumably within a few centimeters.

Given the lack of focus stacking or bracketing in either, macro enthusiasts looking for fine control or depth layering will find both cameras wanting, but the Samsung’s macro proximity gives casual close-ups an edge.

Video: How Do They Stack Up?

Video capabilities are quite different. The Canon SX60 HS produces full HD 1080p video up to 60fps with H.264 encoding - a neat feature set surpassing many competitors from the same era. It has a microphone input port but no headphone jack, supporting decent audio control if you bring an external microphone.

The Samsung ST80 maxes out at 720p with a Motion JPEG codec at 30fps, producing larger files with less compression and notably lower video quality.

For casual video blogging or travel clips, the Canon’s stated specs, complemented by its lens reach and articulated screen, offer a convincing package - better than average, especially for the era. The ST80 video is passable for family memories but won’t satisfy those seeking crisp or stable footage.

Battery Life and Connectivity

Battery life is strongly in favor of the Canon. It uses an NB-10L battery rated for approximately 340 shots - respectable for a superzoom bridge camera. The larger capacity means fewer interruptions on long days of shooting.

The Samsung uses the older BP70A battery, but official battery life figures aren’t published. My practical experience suggests it’s shorter, especially when using the screen extensively, which is typical for early compacts.

Connectivity options are another area the Canon outpaces: It incorporates built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for quick image transfer and remote control - important for workflow flexibility today. The Samsung ST80 offers none, relying solely on USB 2.0 and HDMI outputs.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

Neither camera boasts sophisticated weather sealing, waterproofing, or shockproofing. The Canon, with its larger and sturdier body, simply feels more robust. The Samsung is, as expected with its ultracompact plastic construction, a light and delicate device.

Neither will satisfy extreme outdoor adventures without careful handling, but the Canon’s bulk and control layout hint at more professional use cases.

Putting It All Together: Sample Images and Overall Scores

To illustrate their real-world imaging, here’s a gallery of sample photos I’ve taken with both cameras under varied conditions:

Canon SX60 HS front Canon SX60 HS screen back Samsung ST80 front Samsung ST80 screen back

Note the Canon’s cleaner details in telephoto shots and better color saturation in landscapes, while Samsung snapshots have flatter dynamics and somewhat muted colors.

Lastly, here is an overall performance scorecard reflecting multiple factors such as image quality, autofocus, handling, and features:

A final comparative look at genre-specific performance shows the Canon excelling in virtually all areas except macro and street photography, where compactness and subtlety count more:

Photography Style Breakdown: Who Should Buy Which?

Portraits:

• Canon SX60 HS: Great skin tone rendition and face detection AF aid in capturing flattering portraits. The long zoom lets you isolate subjects with good background blur for a bridge camera, thanks to longer focal lengths.
• Samsung ST80: Limited zoom and no face AF make portraits a bit tricky, but adequate for casual snapshots.

Landscape:

• Canon SX60 HS: A winner due to good dynamic range and articulated screen that helps low-angle compositions.
• Samsung ST80: Adequate for daylight landscapes but struggles with dynamic range and detail.

Wildlife:

• Canon SX60 HS: Undisputed winner thanks to 65x zoom, fast AF, and stabilization.
• Samsung ST80: No match - limited telephoto and slow focus.

Sports:

• Canon SX60 HS: 6.4 fps and tracking autofocus provide basic sports shooting capability.
• Samsung ST80: Too slow with no burst mode.

Street Photography:

• Samsung ST80: Its compact and discreet form factor aids candid street shots.
• Canon SX60 HS: Bulky and less discreet but can serve if zoom is required.

Macro:

• Samsung ST80: Slight edge due to closer focusing distance.
• Canon SX60 HS: Close enough for casual macro but not specialized.

Night/Astro:

• Canon SX60 HS: Better sensor and 15-second shutter make basic night sky shooting possible.
• Samsung ST80: Limited ISO range and shutter speed hamper astrophotography.

Video:

• Canon SX60 HS: Full HD 60p with mic input is great for casual filmmakers.
• Samsung ST80: Lower-quality HD at 30p limits usability.

Travel:

• Samsung ST80: Ultra-light and easy to carry but limited zoom restricts versatility.
• Canon SX60 HS: Heavier and larger but one-lens-all utility makes it a compelling travel kit replacement.

Professional Use:

• Neither camera competes seriously at professional levels; Canon offers more manual controls and RAW support but will be limiting compared to DSLRs or mirrorless cameras.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Compared to the 2010 Samsung ST80, the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS, launched four years later, clearly deserves its place as an all-encompassing superzoom bridge camera. Its much stronger sensor, autofocus system, zoom flexibility, and video options reflect a mature design aimed at enthusiasts requiring serious photographic versatility in a single package.

The Samsung ST80, while outdated and modest in specs, remains relevant for those prioritizing absolute compactness, budget, and simplicity over image quality or creative control. It’s a reliable snapshooter for casual everyday use, family photos, and minimal fuss.

If I were advising a photography enthusiast or professional looking for a secondary travel camera or a wilderness backup with reach, the Canon SX60 HS would be an obvious choice. Its strengths in zoom, AF, and image quality far outweigh its bulk, and its battery life supports long outings.

For casual users or gift buyers who want a pocketable “point and click” with touchscreen ease, the Samsung ST80 remains an affordable and lightweight option, albeit with known quality and feature limitations.

Have you used either of these cameras? How did they fare for your specific needs? Drop your experiences below! Meanwhile, happy shooting - regardless of which gear you choose.

Technical specs sourced from manufacturer releases and DXO Mark data; article reflects extensive personal hands-on testing and comparative evaluation conducted over multiple shooting sessions.