Olympus 1 vs Samsung CL80

The following is a in depth review of the Olympus 1 and Samsung CL80, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Samsung. The image resolution of the 1 (12MP) and the CL80 (14MP) is pretty close but the 1 (1/1.7") and CL80 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

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The 1 was revealed 3 years after the CL80 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Samsung CL80 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the 1 scores against the CL80 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus 1 and Samsung CL80. The full galleries are provided at Olympus 1 Gallery and Samsung CL80 Gallery.

When you are going to travel with your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Olympus 1 features outside measurements of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") with a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs) whilst the Samsung CL80 has specifications of 104mm x 58mm x 20mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Olympus 1 and Samsung CL80 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the 1 compared to the CL80.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the 1 and CL80 is 79 and 95 respectively.

In many cases, it can be tough to see the difference in sensor dimensions purely by viewing technical specs. The picture here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the 1 and CL80.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The 1 with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Samsung CL80 will result in greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more recent 1 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.