Canon SX220 HS vs. Samsung CL80: A Hands-On Comparison for Practical Photographers

When it comes to budget-friendly compact cameras, the choices can get a little noisy. Two tried-and-true models from the early 2010s still turn up in used gear shops and among bargain hunters: Canon’s SX220 HS and Samsung’s CL80 (also known as the ST5500). Both cameras launched around the same time, packing moderate zoom ranges and user-friendly designs aimed at casual photographers - but how do they really stack up when you dig into the nuts and bolts?

Having spent countless hours testing compact cameras, here's my honest, experience-backed take on their real-world performance, strengths, and tradeoffs. Whether you’re just getting into photography, need a backup unit, or just love a solid pocketable superzoom, this article will help you decide which model suits your workflow, style, and budget.

Getting a Feel for the Cameras: Size, Design, and Controls

When I first pick up a camera, I’m not just interested in specs - I want to know if it feels right. Ergonomics can make or break the shooting experience, especially when you carry the camera all day on a trip or need to capture that quick fleeting moment on the street.

Side-by-side size and shape of the Canon SX220 HS (left) and Samsung CL80 (right).

The Canon SX220 HS is a compact superzoom with a chunkier build - dimensions of approximately 106x59x33 mm - giving it a slightly more substantial grip. This feels reassuring in the hand, especially if you tend to use manual zoom or need some tactile control clubs for your thumbs. The fixed zoom lens extends out quite far, but the camera’s heft manages the balance well.

On the other hand, the Samsung CL80 is an ultracompact model, noticeably slimmer and lighter at about 104x58x20 mm. The lower profile and thinner body make it pocket-friendly, appealing for ultra-light travel or street photography when you prefer discretion. However, the sleeker design sacrifices some grip comfort, and I often found myself wishing for a better thumb rest or grip texture on longer shoots.

Looking at the top and rear control layouts:

Canon’s SX220 HS has clearly defined dials and buttons; Samsung’s CL80 relies more on touchscreen and fewer physical controls.

The SX220 HS offers traditional physical controls - a dedicated mode dial, exposure compensation buttons, and a zoom rocker - ideal for photographers who want quick, tactile adjustments on the fly. Meanwhile, the Samsung CL80 embraces a touchscreen interface (3.7-inch, by the way, bigger but lower resolution), which is a double-edged sword. It’s intuitive for beginners, but when shooting in bright sunlight or needing precise control, it can feel sluggish or inaccurate.

In sum, if you value solid ergonomics and direct control, the SX220 HS wins here. For ultra-portability and touchscreen ease (albeit with compromises), the CL80 could fit better.

Sensor, Image Quality, and Resolution: Which One Makes Your Shots Pop?

At the heart of any camera is its sensor, and though both use the same 1/2.3-inch sensor size, differences in sensor technology and pixel count can significantly impact image quality.

Both cameras share a 1/2.3” sensor size, but the Canon’s BSI-CMOS sensor and Samsung’s CCD sensor weigh differently in performance.

The Canon SX220 HS boasts a 12-megapixel backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor. BSI sensors, especially for the time, were a step up because they capture more light by flipping the sensor wiring, which helps improve high ISO performance and dynamic range - a boon for low-light and high-contrast scenes like landscapes or indoor portraits.

The Samsung CL80 opts for a 14-megapixel CCD sensor. While offering slightly higher nominal resolution (14MP vs. 12MP), CCDs generally lag behind CMOS in sensitivity and noise control. In practice, that extra pixel count didn’t translate into noticeably crisper images in my testing; the Samsung images showed more noise in shadows and low light, limiting their usefulness for challenging shooting conditions.

What about real-world images?

Canon SX220 HS front Canon SX220 HS screen back Samsung CL80 front Samsung CL80 screen back

On the Canon’s files, colors felt more natural and the dynamic range pulled back more highlight detail without clipping. Skin tones in portraits were warm without oversaturation - essential if you want to avoid post-processing headaches. The Samsung, while capable in bright light, had a tendency to crush shadows and push contrast, making highlights prone to burn out under direct sunlight.

The Canon’s maximal image dimension is 4000x3000 px, practically enough for nice 13x19" prints. The Samsung pushes to 4334x3256 px, but that extra resolution comes with the cost of more noise and less clean detail.

Autofocus and Speed: Keeping the Moment

For enthusiasts who don’t want to miss the shot (which is everyone), autofocus reliability and speed are king. Both cameras use contrast-detection autofocus, but their AF systems differ in refinement.

The Canon offers 9 focus points with face detection and tracking - quite progressive for a compact from 2011. Continuous autofocus works decently for moving subjects at a modest pace; I tested it on quick kids running around, and it held focus better than most compact cameras of that era.

The Samsung’s autofocus is more basic: no continuous AF, no face detection, and limited focus area selection. It nails static subjects but struggles with tracking or low-contrast scenes. Trying to capture a bird in flight or a fast-moving street scene almost guaranteed a frustrating hunt for sharp focus.

Continuous shooting speed is 3 fps for the Canon, which is workable for casual sports or wildlife, while the Samsung does not provide a sustained burst mode - essentially only one shot at a time.

Bottom line: Canon SX220 HS outperforms Samsung CL80 in autofocus sophistication and speed, critical if you shoot moving subjects or want reliable capture.

LCD Screen and User Interface: Touch vs. Traditional

Camera interfaces can either support a creative workflow or slow it down - especially in compact cameras where space is limited.

The Samsung’s 3.7" touchscreen offers size advantage, but the Canon’s 3" fixed LCD has higher resolution for clearer viewing.

Samsung’s large 3.7-inch touchscreen is a selling point. The ability to tap to focus, swipe through images, and even activate a motion self-timer enhances usability for casual users and beginners. However, the 230k-dot resolution made fine details harder to inspect, and sunlight washout was an issue.

Canon’s 3" PureColor II TG TFT LCD has a noticeably sharper 461k-dot resolution, providing a cleaner, easier-to-see preview with accurate color representation. Sadly, it’s a fixed screen with no tilting or swiveling. The interface relies on physical buttons and a directional pad, which felt more precise and responsive during shooting but may intimidate touchscreen devotees.

In my mixing and matching, I tend to value the solid image review and direct control of the Canon screen over the bigger but less detailed Samsung display.

Lens, Zoom Range, and Macro Performance

A superzoom’s lens package shapes its versatility.

• Canon SX220 HS: 28-392mm equivalent (14x zoom), aperture f/3.1-f/5.9
• Samsung CL80: 31-217mm equivalent (7x zoom), aperture f/3.3-f/5.5

The Canon’s much longer zoom range makes it the obvious choice for wildlife, travel, and sports photography where flexibility is a huge asset. I took both on hikes and city walks, and the Canon’s reach helped get shots of distant subjects without lugging longer glass.

Macro focusing range is similar: both resolve details as close as 5 cm, which is respectable. However, the Canon’s optical image stabilization (OIS) proved more stable at macro distances, allowing crisper details with handheld shooting. The Samsung also offers OIS but seemed a tad less effective in my handheld tests.

One odd quirk: the Samsung’s lens is fixed - meaning no manual focus option - whereas the Canon allows manual focus, appealing if you want precise focus control for creative macro or portrait work.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery endurance is a real-world pain point - nothing worse than a dead battery in the middle of an outing.

The Canon SX220 uses a proprietary NB-5L battery rated for approximately 210 shots per charge under CIPA standards. That’s modest, and in practice I recommend carrying two batteries on longer trips.

The Samsung CL80’s manufacturer specs don’t provide a clear figure, but testing suggests similar or slightly lower battery life, and it uses the SLB-11A battery.

Both cameras use a single memory card slot; the Canon supports SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC formats, whereas the Samsung relies on MicroSD/MicroSDHC cards and also provides internal storage (a bit unusual). Internal storage can sometimes offer a fallback but is usually too small for serious shooting.

Video Capabilities: Quality and Features

For casual video shooters, the Canon’s ability to record Full HD 1080p at 24fps stands out. It also supports 720p at 30fps and slower-motion VGA clips at up to 120fps, providing some creative options. The video format is H.264, which compresses efficiently without sacrificing too much detail.

Samsung CL80 is limited to 720p max, with the video saved in Motion JPEG, a less efficient format leading to larger files and quicker fill-up of memory cards. Frame rates max out at 30 fps for HD video with lower options.

Neither camera sports microphone or headphone ports, so audio control is limited to the built-in mic - a given at this price point but worth noting.

While both perform basic video tasks well, Canon leads in video resolution and codec efficiency - helpful if you want cleaner HD footage.

Durability and Weather Sealing

Since both cameras are consumer-grade compacts, environmental sealing is absent. Neither Canon nor Samsung models are dustproof, waterproof, shockproof, or freezeproof. I would advise caution if you shoot regularly outdoors under wet or dusty conditions - both should be protected with proper care.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera offers wireless connectivity such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or NFC - a big limitation in the current sharing-centric photo world. HDMI ports are present on both for direct playback to TV or monitors. USB 2.0 ports provide tethered download or charging.

On the Canon side, the camera has exposure compensation (+/- EV), white balance bracketing, and some manual modes (shutter priority, aperture priority, manual), giving more creative control. Samsung omits these, mainly offering fully automatic and scene modes, positioning it for casual users.

Pricing and Value Proposition

At launch, both came around $399, and these prices remain fairly consistent in the used market.

• Canon SX220 HS: Offers stronger zoom, better sensor technology, manual controls, and HD video recording.
• Samsung CL80: Appeals primarily to those wanting a simple touchscreen interface and smaller body, but with fewer manual settings and weaker autofocus.

Given their feature sets, I’d say Canon’s model delivers superior value for photographers willing to engage with manual controls and desire better image quality. Samsung’s simplicity and touchscreen might appeal to first-timers or those prioritizing ultra-compact size.

Photography Genres: Which Camera Handles What Best?

Different photographers have different requirements. Here’s how I’d assess these cameras across popular genres:

Portraits

The Canon's face detection AF and warmer, natural skin tones make it a better portrait camera. The Samsung’s lack of face detection and slightly harsher color rendering limit its effectiveness.

Landscapes

Canon again wins with better dynamic range, the ability to shoot at low ISO cleanly, and longer focal length for distant details.

Wildlife

With the Canon’s longer zoom and continuous AF, you’re more likely to capture sharp images of animals - even if only from moderate distances. Samsung’s shorter zoom and basic AF struggle here.

Sports

Canon’s 3 fps burst and better AF tracking are just enough for slow to moderate action, while Samsung is best avoided for sports.

Street Photography

Samsung’s slim form and touchscreen ease might tempt street shooters who value unobtrusive gear. The Canon is bulkier but offers better control and image quality.

Macro

Both have similar closest focusing distances, but Canon’s stabilization makes it easier to get sharp handheld close-ups.

Night/Astro Photography

Canon’s BSI-CMOS sensor and lower noise at high ISO make it the preferred choice. Neither camera is designed for serious astro photography.

Video

Canon’s Full HD and codec advantage significantly outpaces Samsung’s 720p Motion JPEG.

Travel

Canon’s bigger size is a tradeoff for zoom versatility; Samsung is better for ultra-light packing but sacrifices reach and flexibility.

Professional Use

Neither camera is professional-grade; the Canon’s exposure modes and RAW absence limit professional workflow. Both remain firmly in the casual-to-enthusiast bracket.

Wrapping It Up: Scores and Recommendations

I ran both cameras through extensive testing based on autofocus speed, image quality, ergonomics, and video capability. The results formatted below show Canon’s consistent lead:

Diving deeper into genre-specific strength:

Pros and Cons Summary

Final Thoughts

From my hands-on testing and pixel-peeping experience, the Canon SX220 HS emerges as the more versatile, better-performing compact superzoom. Its thoughtful design choices - manual controls, robust sensor, superior autofocus, and stronger video specs - make it a solid option for enthusiasts who want to grow with the camera.

The Samsung CL80, while sleek and finger-friendly, feels like a stepping stone for entry-level shooters who prize touchscreen simplicity and slimness over technical performance. Its limitations in autofocus, image quality, and creative controls make it less suitable for serious photographic goals.

If you’re a budget-conscious photographer who values image quality and control in a small package, the Canon will better satisfy your creative itch. For absolute minimalists and touchscreen fans who shoot mostly in good light, the Samsung could still work as a secondary, casual cam.

Hope this comparison gives you a clear picture - pun intended - of how these two compact cameras perform in real life, not just on paper. Feel free to ask if you want more detailed tests or lenses suggestions!

Happy shooting!