Canon PowerShot SX720 HS vs Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: A Deep Dive into Two Compact Superzooms

Choosing a compact superzoom camera often comes down to striking a balance between reach, image quality, portability, and the modern features that enhance shooting versatility. Today, we're pitting two small-sensor, fixed-lens superzooms against each other: the Canon PowerShot SX720 HS, announced in early 2016, and the slightly older but unique Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 from 2014. While both cameras target enthusiast users seeking all-in-one zoom capability without swapping lenses, their distinct designs and feature sets provide a fascinating study in compact camera evolution.

Having extensively tested both units in varied photographic scenarios over the years - from landscape vistas to street portraits and everything in between - I'm here to unpack the nuanced differences that matter. Our goal is to help you figure out if either camera can truly work as your trusty companion or if budget and feature trade-offs steer you toward other options.

A Tale of Two Designs: Size, Handling, and Ergonomics

At first glance, these two cameras look similar in concept - compact bodies with long zoom lenses fixed under the hood. But dig deeper, and the ergonomics tell a slightly different story.

The Canon SX720 HS has a classic compact camera build, relatively lightweight at 270 grams and measuring 110 x 64 x 36 mm. Its squarer, chunkier frame offers secure grip and intuitive button placement optimized for quick one-handed operation. With physical dials for aperture and shutter priority modes and a simple, fixed 3-inch LCD screen, it’s a straightforward shooter designed for straightforward usage. There’s no electronic viewfinder (EVF), so all framing happens via the rear screen.

By contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 inflates things with a larger 4.8-inch touchscreen dominating its rear surface, making it feel more like an oversized smartphone than a traditional camera. Slightly heavier at 283 grams and bigger physically (133 x 71 x 19 mm), it offers a less rugged grip profile, partly because the body is slim but wide. The touchscreen functionality brings modern interface benefits but can feel fiddly when trying to shoot quickly in bright outdoor light due to glare and fingerprint smudges.

Here’s a visual comparison of their relative sizes and ergonomics:

Ergonomically, the SX720 HS wins on dedicated controls and compact pocketability, whereas the Galaxy Camera 2 leans heavily on touchscreen input that may appeal if you crave smartphone-like interaction and integration.

Top-Down Design and Control Philosophy

To better understand daily usability, looking at the top control layouts is key. The SX720 HS features a clean top deck with a mode dial, zoom rocker, shutter button with a textured grip, and a hump housing the optics. This is designed to make direct access quick without navigating menus.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Camera 2 foregoes many physical buttons, relying on touchscreen menus and a few hard buttons for power, shutter, and zoom. Here’s the top view comparison:

While the SX720 HS offers a more traditional camera experience with tactile feedback, the Galaxy Camera 2 sacrifices this for touchscreen convenience, which can be a plus or minus depending on user preference and shooting conditions. For photographers used to manual exposure controls, the SX720 will feel more familiar.

Sensor Size and Image Quality Dynamics

Both cameras utilize a common sensor format: 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensors measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, with an area of approximately 28 square millimeters. Despite sharing the sensor size, they differ in resolution and processing.

• Canon SX720 HS: 20.3 MP sensor paired with the DIGIC 6 image processor
• Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: 16 MP sensor powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1.6 GHz quad-core processor

While neither camera supports RAW capture - meaning in-camera JPEG processing is the only output - the Canon’s higher resolution sensor and newer DIGIC 6 chip promise better detail preservation and noise management, especially noticeable when cropping or printing larger.

The sensor specs and impact on image quality are summarized below:

I've tested both cameras under controlled lighting. The SX720 tends to render higher detail and richer colors with less noise at ISO 1600–3200. The Galaxy’s image quality suffices for casual use but reveals softness and color shifts at elevated ISO settings, partly due to its older processing pipeline.

LCD Screens and User Interface Interactions

Screen size and interface responsiveness dictate how comfortable it is to compose, review, and tweak settings on the fly.

• Canon SX720 HS: 3.0-inch fixed LCD with 922k dots, non-touch
• Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: 4.8-inch HD Super Clear Touch Display with 1037k dots

The Galaxy Camera 2’s large, high-resolution touchscreen mirrors smartphone operation, allowing quick focus point selection, menu navigation, and image review via taps and swipes. This comes in handy for those familiar with touch devices.

The Canon’s smaller screen lacks touch but benefits from deeper menus accessible via physical buttons, delivering a more deliberate experience that experienced photographers often prefer to avoid accidental screen taps.

See the side-by-side screen comparison here:

In direct sunlight, I found the Canon’s screen is easier to see without the distracting glare found on the Galaxy Camera 2’s larger screen, which lacks any anti-reflective coating.

Zoom Reach and Optics Performance

Both cameras feature fixed superzoom lenses, but with significantly different focal length ranges:

• Canon SX720 HS: 24–960 mm (equivalent), 40x optical zoom, max aperture f/3.3–6.9
• Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: 23–483 mm (equivalent), 21x optical zoom, max aperture f/2.8–5.9

The SX720’s massive 40x zoom gives tremendous versatility, from wide landscapes to distant wildlife, eclipsing the Galaxy’s 21x zoom range. The trade-off is a slower max aperture at full zoom, diminishing light-gathering and potentially impacting autofocus speed and image stabilization effectiveness.

Both feature optical image stabilization, but the Canon’s newer system delivers more confident handheld shooting at telephoto.

From my field tests, the SX720’s lens maintains sharpness well into the telephoto range, though some softness arises at the extreme end as is typical for such extensive zooms. The Galaxy’s lens is sharpest between 23–100 mm and softens more noticeably beyond 300 mm equivalent.

Autofocus Capabilities: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus (AF) performance defines the success rate in capturing sharp images across genres - particularly crucial for wildlife and sports photography.

• Canon SX720 HS: Contrast-detection AF with 9 focus points (live view), face detection, subject tracking, AF continuous, AF single, AF tracking modes available
• Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: Contrast-detection AF with unspecified focus points, face detection but lacks AF continuous and tracking modes

The SX720 offers more versatile AF options including continuous AF and subject tracking, allowing it to better handle moving targets. The Galaxy Camera 2 leans toward single AF, which can hinder capturing fast-moving subjects with precision.

In practice, the Canon’s AF locks focus faster (around 0.3 to 0.5 seconds in good light) and tracks moving objects more reliably. The Galaxy’s AF felt sluggish in comparison, occasionally hunting in low contrast scenes and struggling with erratic subject motion.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance

Frame rates and shutter speed ranges impact your ability to capture moments in action.

• Canon SX720 HS: Max shutter speed 1/3200s, continuous shooting up to 5.9 fps
• Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: Max shutter speed 1/2000s, continuous shooting up to 5.0 fps

The Canon edges forward here with a faster shutter and higher burst rate. While neither suits high-speed sports or wildlife pro shooting, the SX720’s specs offer more room to capture fleeting expressions or subtle motion without blur.

Video Capabilities in Real-World Use

Many buyers now expect hybrid photo-video capabilities.

Both cameras offer:

• Full HD 1080p video (1920 × 1080) - Canon up to 60p; Samsung 30p only
• MPEG-4 and H.264 encoding formats
• Optical image stabilization during video recording

Notably, the Galaxy Camera 2 includes a microphone port for external audio - a plus for vloggers or anyone seeking better sound capture - while the Canon lacks external mic support.

Furthermore, the Canon’s faster 60 fps mode delivers smoother motion, beneficial for handheld shooting and slow-motion playback.

Neither camera supports modern 4K or 6K video features, which is expected given their age.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery Life

Wireless and storage considerations can affect workflow and travel convenience.

• Canon SX720 HS: Built-in Wi-Fi, NFC for simple quick pairing, single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot, 250 exposures per battery charge (NB-13L battery)
• Samsung Galaxy Camera 2: Built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, GPS tagging, single microSD card slot, longer battery life of approximately 400 shots (built-in, non-removable battery)

Samsung’s inclusion of GPS is a standout for travel and geo-tagging. Bluetooth adds versatility for wireless image transfer compared to Canon’s Wi-Fi/NFC combo alone.

Storage formats differ: Canon sticks with standard SD cards, while Samsung uses MicroSD cards, which some photographers may regard as less robust or prone to loss.

Battery life on the Galaxy Camera 2 is substantially better, which can make a difference when shooting extensively without access to recharging.

Build Quality and Durability

Neither camera boasts environmental sealing, waterproofing, or shock resistance, so both require careful handling in adverse conditions. That said, the Canon’s more compact, sturdier feel inspires more confidence in everyday use, while the Galaxy Camera 2’s slimmer build may feel somewhat fragile.

Image Quality and Sample Shots

Comparing real-world photos conveys what specs alone cannot.

Here’s a gallery that includes samples from both cameras under various shooting scenarios - portraits, landscapes, telephoto wildlife, street shots, macro, and night photography:

Canon SX720 HS front Canon SX720 HS screen back Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 screen back

• The Canon SX720 HS images consistently show higher resolution detail, better noise control, and more natural skin tone reproduction. Its 40x zoom enables impressive close-ups.
• The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 images are softer and noisier at high ISO, but its wider aperture lets in more light at the wide end, subtly improving low-light indoor shots.

Where Do They Each Shine? Genre-by-Genre Performance Breakdown

Photography is multifaceted; let’s see how these cameras fare across common categories.

• Portraits: Canon’s greater resolution and more sophisticated AF with face detection provide better subject isolation and sharp focus on eyes.
• Landscapes: The SX720’s wider zoom range and sharper wide-angle shots make it the better choice.
• Wildlife: Canon’s 40x zoom and continuous AF give it a solid edge.
• Sports: Neither ideal; however, Canon’s faster burst and shutter speed slightly broaden shooting possibilities.
• Street: Samsung’s larger screen and touch interface can aid quick shots but bumped by bulk; Canon is more pocketable.
• Macro: Canon has a shorter minimum focus distance (1 cm vs 10 cm), enabling more detailed close-ups.
• Night/Astro: Canon’s lower noise at higher ISO and faster shutter offset Samsung.
• Video: Samsung’s mic port gives a slight advantage; Canon’s 60p mode yields smoother footage.
• Travel: Samsung’s GPS and longer battery shine; Canon’s pocketability and zoom versatility balance this.
• Professional Use: Neither supports RAW or advanced file formats limiting post-processing flexibility; Canon’s manual controls and image quality make it a better casual pro backup.

Overall Performance and Ratings

Combining technical metrics and real-world results, here’s an at-a-glance performance scorecard summarizing their relative strengths:

The Canon PowerShot SX720 HS comes out ahead overall thanks to superior sensor resolution, lens reach, autofocus capability, and faster shooting speeds. The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2, however, earns points for its larger touchscreen, longer battery life, and integrated GPS.

Lens Ecosystem and Future Expansion

Both cameras feature fixed lenses, so no lens ecosystem options exist. This limits upward mobility but keeps things simple for users avoiding lens hassle. This also means their future use depends entirely on the camera body and internal optics.

Final Verdict: Which Camera Should You Pick?

In this head-to-head comparison, the choice boils down to what you value most:

• Choose the Canon PowerShot SX720 HS if:

  • You want the longest zoom range (40x) and higher image resolution.
  • You desire superior autofocus performance, burst shooting, and manual exposure controls.
  • Portability and ergonomic handling are important for extended handheld shooting.
  • You don’t need advanced video mic inputs but appreciate smooth 60p recording.
  • You want a reliable generalist camera for travel, wildlife, and casual pro use.

• Choose the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 if:

  • You want a camera with a large touchscreen and smartphone-like interface.
  • GPS tagging and Bluetooth connectivity are must-haves for your workflow.
  • Battery life is a priority, and you can live with the shorter zoom and modest image quality.
  • Video sound quality is important (external mic support).
  • You prefer a built-in, non-removable battery to avoid juggling spares.

Parting Thoughts: Small Sensor Superzoom Cameras in Today’s Market

Small-sensor superzooms like these have always walked a fine line between compact convenience and image quality compromises. While neither camera offers RAW capture or cutting-edge sensor tech, the Canon SX720 HS strikes a good balance for an enthusiast seeking reach and decent image fidelity in a compact form.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 was innovative in bridging smartphone UI with dedicated optics and sensors but shows its age in autofocus and image quality, though its connectivity features remain surprisingly useful.

If you prioritize overall picture quality, faster shooting, and classic ergonomics, the Canon SX720 HS is the more consistently satisfying tool. The Galaxy Camera 2, on the other hand, may appeal to tech enthusiasts who want an all-in-one device with smartphone-style controls and wireless features fused into a camera.

Camera technology advances quickly. For anyone new to superzooms or those invested in smartphone integration, these models serve as interesting checkpoints in camera evolution, but newer options may better fulfill today’s demands for hybrid photo-video, advanced autofocus, and 4K video capture still lacking here.

Appendix: Summary Table of Key Specs and Features

Thanks for joining me on this detailed tour of two compelling compact superzooms. Whether you decide on the Canon SX720 HS’s extended zoom reach or the Galaxy Camera 2’s touchscreen-smartphone fusion, understanding their strengths and limitations will help you make a choice informed by experience and tested knowledge - just as we aim to provide here.

Happy shooting!