Canon SX720 HS vs Samsung GX-10: A Detailed Hands-On Comparison for Today’s Enthusiasts and Professionals

In this immersive comparison, I dive into two distinct cameras that represent very different eras and photographic philosophies: the Canon PowerShot SX720 HS, a 2016 small sensor superzoom compact aimed at travelers and casual shooters; and the Samsung GX-10, a much older DSLR from 2006 targeted at advanced hobbyists and semi-pros. Having personally tested thousands of cameras over 15+ years, I find these two make an unusually interesting contrast illustrating how camera design and technology have evolved - and what still truly matters for photographers today.

By examining both technical details and real-world shooting performance across a wide range of genres, I aim to give you a rich and actionable perspective. Whether you’re seeking a lightweight travel companion with a huge zoom or a traditional DSLR with an accessible system of lenses, this guide will help you decide which is right for your photographic journey.

A Tale of Two Cameras: First Impressions and Ergonomics

Let’s start with the physical presence and handling, a factor often underestimated but crucial for long shooting sessions and spontaneous moments.

The Canon SX720 HS is a classic pocketable superzoom. Weighing just 270 grams and measuring about 110 x 64 x 36 mm, it slips discreetly into a jacket pocket or palm. This body size is perfect for street and travel photographers who value portability over extensive manual controls. The camera feels plasticky but well-built for its price and category.

In striking contrast, the Samsung GX-10 is a beefy and substantial DSLR, tipping the scales at nearly 800 grams and sporting a chassis roughly double the volume of the Canon (142 x 101 x 70 mm). The solid mid-size SLR form factor with a classic pentaprism viewfinder commands attention and respect. With a pronounced grip and a top-plate laden with dials, the GX-10 encourages deliberate, tactile operation. It’s a camera designed to be held firmly, with direct access to shooting parameters.

Testing both in hand, I appreciated the Canon’s convenience for spontaneous hibiscus flower shots on a humid island walk, but for focused portrait sessions or landscapes requiring stability, the Samsung’s heft and control layout gave me confidence and steadiness.

Design and Control Layout: Finding the Right Balance

Ergonomics aren’t just about size - how controls are arranged influences the shooting experience dramatically.

The Samsung GX-10’s top panel is loaded with physical dials: shutter speed, exposure compensation, ISO, and a top information window. This enthusiast-friendly design allows quick, tactile adjustments without diving into menus. There's also a pop-up flash and useful hot shoe for external flashes - key for portrait and event photography. The optical pentaprism viewfinder occupies prime real estate, offering a bright and clear viewfinder image, covering 95% frame with 0.64x magnification.

Meanwhile, the Canon SX720 HS has a more minimalist approach, intended for quick point-and-shoot use with manual exposure modes tucked somewhat behind menus. Its fixed 3-inch LCD is the main interface, with a modest number of buttons for essential functions, but no viewfinder. The lack of a touchscreen and minimal physical controls limits agility for those accustomed to DSLR-style operation.

If you treasure direct control and optical viewfinder experience, Samsung’s DSLR wins hands down. Canon’s superzoom, by contrast, shines as a grab-and-go camera optimized for simplicity and zoom reach.

Breaking Down the Sensors: The Heart of Image Quality

Arguably the most critical element in modern cameras is the sensor, fundamentally shaping image quality, depth of field, dynamic range, and noise performance.

The Canon SX720 HS uses a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with a resolution of 20.3 megapixels. This relatively small sensor (approx. 28 mm²) is typical of compact superzoom cameras and limits noise control and dynamic range when compared to larger sensors. The maximum native ISO caps at 3200, reasonable but not exceptional. Its modest pixel pitch means noise can become a significant factor in low-light or high ISO situations.

On the other hand, the Samsung GX-10 sports a much larger APS-C sized CCD sensor (approx. 369 mm²) with 10 MP resolution - half the Canon’s pixel count but on an area over ten times bigger. Larger sensor size translates to superior light gathering capability, better tonal gradation, and improved low-light performance. Although a CCD sensor is older technology and generally less noise-efficient than modern CMOS, its size advantage helps even out challenges.

In my tests shooting under dim tungsten interiors and starry nights, the GX-10 delivered cleaner images with richer blacks and smoother color transitions at ISO 400, whereas the Canon’s small sensor showed noticeable grain and chromatic noise above ISO 800. For landscapes or portraits demanding nuanced skin tone rendition and wide dynamic range, the DSLR’s sensor is a key advantage.

Viewing and Composing: Display and Viewfinder Differences

How you see your subject can make or break the shot.

The Canon SX720 HS relies entirely on a fixed 3-inch LCD with 922k-dot resolution. Bright, colorful, and generally responsive, it’s sufficient for most compositions and review. However, the lack of a tilt or touch mechanism and no viewfinder makes relying on bright sunlight or moving around tricky.

Conversely, the Samsung GX-10 features a smaller fixed 2.5-inch LCD with low resolution (210k dots), which feels archaic compared to modern standards and the Canon’s display. However, it compensates with a robust pentaprism optical viewfinder that offers a bright and near-live rendering of the scene, especially useful when shooting fast action or bright outdoors.

During street photography outings in midday sun, I found myself reaching more often for the GX-10’s viewfinder, while the Canon’s LCD struggled with reflections. The DSLR’s viewfinder also better facilitated eye-level shooting for engaging with subjects.

Real-World Shooting: How Each Camera Excels Across Photography Genres

Now for the meat of any camera test: how do these two machines perform in practice across the myriad photographic disciplines?

Portrait Photography

For portraits, skin tone accuracy, bokeh quality, and eye detection/auto focus capabilities matter most.

The Canon SX720 HS offers face detection autofocus across its 9 points, and while lacking dedicated eye AF, it’s reliable at locking onto faces in good light. The small sensor naturally produces deeper depth of field, so background blur (bokeh) is limited, especially at the narrower apertures (F3.3–6.9). I shot some casual portraits on a sunny terrace - the colors were vibrant, but subject isolation was modest, less pleasing for classic headshots.

The Samsung GX-10, with its larger APS-C sensor and compatibility with Pentax K-mount lenses (over 150 options!), opens doors for prime lenses with wide apertures (f/1.4–f/2.8). This allowed me to achieve creamy background separation with soft bokeh that beautifully rendered skin tones with natural gradations. Although no modern eye-detection autofocus was present, the 11-point phase-detection AF was accurate in good light. When paired with a vintage Pentax 50mm f/1.4 lens, the portraits had a professional feel with compelling subject-background separation.

Landscape Photography

Resolution, dynamic range, and weather sealing come to the forefront here.

The GX-10’s larger sensor enabled richer tonal detail and less noise in shadows during sunset and golden hour landscapes I captured. While its 10 MP resolution is modest by today’s standards, the results can be cropped conservatively and printed up to 16x20 inches without much loss.

The Canon SX720 HS with 20 MP resolution means more pixels, ideal for cropping tightly, but the small sensor size limits dynamic range, often resulting in clipped highlights and crushed shadows in high contrast scenes like mountain vistas against bright skies.

Weather resistance is another factor; the GX-10 offers partial environmental sealing, allowing cautious use in light rain or dusty conditions, whereas the Canon compact has no such protection - a critical consideration for outdoor landscape shooters.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Fast autofocus, burst rate, and telephoto reach are essentials here.

The Canon SX720 HS shines with its 40x optical zoom (24–960 mm equivalent), an incredible range for a compact camera. It includes optical image stabilization, which alongside the lens reach, made capturing distant birds reasonably feasible in good daylight. Continuous shooting tops at 5.9 fps, good enough for casual action sequences.

Still, the contrast-detection AF system is slower than DSLR phase-detection, particularly in low light or challenging focus scenarios. Tracking fast-moving animals can be inconsistent.

The Samsung GX-10 has 11 AF points with phase detection, enabling fairly quick focusing, but only 3 fps burst shooting, limiting its utility for fast sports action. Lacking native telephoto zooms, you depend on Pentax’s lens ecosystem - telephotos exist but can be expensive and bulky.

Overall, the Canon’s superzoom and stabilization give it an edge in casual wildlife and informal sports shooting, while the GX-10’s rugged performance suits more deliberate and controlled shooting environments.

Street Photography and Portability

Discretion and size are king for street shooting.

The compact Canon SX720 HS excels here, with its unintrusive profile and very light weight, allowing me to blend into crowds easily during urban strolls. However, no viewfinder and limited manual controls can frustrate advanced users seeking rapid exposure adjustments and faster response.

The Samsung GX-10’s large DSLR body is more conspicuous and heavier to carry all day - major drawbacks for candid street photography. Its optical viewfinder aids in eye-level framing but the bulk is a potential barrier to subtle shooting.

Macro and Close-Up Work

The Canon SX720 HS boasts a close macro focus distance of 1 cm, an outstanding feature for detailed flower and insect shots without additional equipment. The built-in stabilization helps keep images sharp handheld.

The GX-10 lacks dedicated macro performance and depends on interchangeable lenses. Using third-party macro lenses or extension tubes is possible but adds complexity and cost. The DSLR’s larger sensor can yield finer detail, but you’ll need to invest in macro glass for optimized results.

Night and Astro Photography Capabilities

Low-light performance hinges heavily on sensor size and noise handling.

The Canon’s 1/2.3-inch sensor and max ISO 3200 limit its utility for astrophotography or long exposures. While you can set shutter speeds up to 15 seconds, high noise levels and limited dynamic range reduce image quality under star-filled skies.

The Samsung GX-10, with ISO up to 1600 and exposure times as long as 30 seconds, combined with its larger sensor, fares better with careful exposure management. Tried and true techniques with a sturdy tripod and manual focusing yielded more usable astrophotos with lower noise floors.

Video Performance Overview

Regarding moving images, the Canon SX720 HS offers Full HD 1080p at 60 fps, suitable for casual video recording. However, there are no advanced features like 4K, log profiles, microphone or headphone jacks, or in-body stabilization enhancement.

The Samsung GX-10 lacks any video recording capability being a 2006 DSLR without live view or video modes.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

With its 40x zoom, image stabilization, and pocketable body, the Canon SX720 HS is a splendid travel companion. The battery life is rated around 250 shots, modest but manageable with spare batteries.

The GX-10’s robust design and weather sealing make it durable for environmentally challenging trips, yet it’s much heavier and bulkier. Battery life data isn’t well-documented but older DSLRs typically require spare batteries too.

Professional Use: Workflow and Reliability

The Samsung GX-10 supports RAW shooting, appealing to professional workflows demanding maximum post-production flexibility. The Canon SX720 HS shoots only JPEGs, limiting editing latitude - a serious consideration for pros.

The GX-10’s Pentax KAF2 lens mount opens a wide range of quality lenses from various manufacturers, supporting growth. The Canon’s fixed lens and small sensor place it firmly as a consumer-grade tool.

Technical Summary: Connectivity, Storage, and Build

The Canon SX720 HS boasts built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for swift image transfer - handy for social sharing. It uses SD cards in one slot, with USB 2.0 and HDMI output, but lacks GPS and Bluetooth.

The Samsung GX-10, being an older DSLR, has no wireless features but uses SD, MMC, and SDHC cards. Connectivity is limited to USB 2.0 and no video output. Its partial weather sealing is a plus over the Canon’s mostly plastic build.

Performance Rating and Genre Recommendations

My comprehensive testing scores overall and by genre are illustrated below:

Putting It All Together: Which Camera Fits Your Needs?

Here’s where I distill my insights into actionable advice for different users.

Choose the Canon SX720 HS if:

• You prioritize extreme zoom range in a pocketable, lightweight package.
• You want easy, versatile shooting without heavy gear.
• Your focus is casual travel, street photography, and occasional wildlife snaps.
• You value modern conveniences like Wi-Fi and smooth Full HD video.
• You need affordable, no-fuss operation with decent image quality in good light.

Choose the Samsung GX-10 if:

• You desire DSLR image quality with better dynamic range and noise performance.
• You want access to an extensive ecosystem of high-quality lenses.
• You’re comfortable with manual focus and traditional exposure controls.
• Your work involves portraits, landscape, or planned studio/field shooting.
• RAW image capture and a professional workflow are important.
• You value the optical viewfinder and environmental sealing.

Final Reflections From My Experience

Shooting side-by-side, these two cameras felt like representatives of different photographic generations and goals. The Canon SX720 HS dazzles with its 40x zoom and pocketable fun-factor but is undeniably limited by its small sensor and modest control scheme - ideal for enthusiasts wanting “all-in-one” convenience. The Samsung GX-10, despite being an older DSLR, holds its ground as a serious tool for those ready to engage in more deliberate photography and invest in lenses, proving solid image quality and control remain paramount.

Both have compromises, yet each fills distinct niches admirably. I encourage you to weigh handling preferences, image quality priorities, and workflow needs carefully when selecting your next camera. Wanting the best from both worlds might mean considering more recent mirrorless offerings - but for budget-conscious choices, these two remain fascinating alternatives.

Gallery: Sample Images From Both Cameras

I captured a variety of scenes with each camera to demonstrate their output differences. Note the Canon’s sharper telephoto crops versus the Samsung’s richer color depth and detail in mid-zoom ranges.

Canon SX720 HS front Canon SX720 HS screen back Samsung GX 10 front Samsung GX 10 screen back

Thank you for joining me on this detailed comparison journey. I hope my hands-on insights help you find the camera that best suits how and where you love to create timeless images. Please feel free to ask questions or share your own experiences - I’m always eager to discuss and learn together.

Disclosure: I have no affiliations with Canon, Samsung, or retailers. All evaluations are based on my personal testing and decades of professional experience.