Panasonic FH25 vs Samsung CL80: A Hands-On Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing between two compact digital cameras like the Panasonic FH25 and Samsung CL80 can be surprisingly tricky. Both were released in the early 2010s and aimed at casual shooters looking for pocketable convenience - but with subtle distinctions that can tip the scale depending on your shooting style and priorities. After extensive hands-on testing with both, it’s clear that while they inhabit similar niches, their real-world usability, imaging strengths, and feature sets serve slightly different photographers.

So, whether you’re hunting for a capable travel companion or a simple everyday snapshot camera, I’ll take you through a detailed journey of their specifications, image quality, autofocus, ergonomics, and more. The goal here is to help you find the camera that truly fits your needs - not just a spec sheet comparison.

First Impressions and Ergonomics: Size Matters

At a glance, both cameras are delightfully pocketable, but the Panasonic FH25 boasts a squarer, slightly chunkier design (99 x 57 x 28 mm) compared to the Samsung CL80’s slimmer profile (104 x 58 x 20 mm). The FH25’s heft at 159g versus 160g for the CL80 is marginally lower, but in hand, the Panasonic’s solid feel and slightly more textured grip help prevent slips.

While neither offers the ergonomic sophistication of advanced mirrorless or DSLRs, the Panasonic’s deeper body lends itself better to secure holding, especially during longer shoots. The Samsung opts for ultracompact elegance, but that comes with a thinner, less substantial handgrip.

In this category, your preference will depend on whether you value tactile confidence or minimal bulk. For me, after sessions of handheld shooting, the FH25 felt more forgiving on my fingers.

Body Design and Interface: Intuitive Controls vs. Sleek Modernity

Turning our attention to the top layout and controls reveals some critical differences in operation style.

The Panasonic FH25 employs a traditional compact camera control scheme with a mode dial, dedicated playback buttons, and a straightforward two-way toggle for zoom and capture commands. It lacks touchscreen input, but the buttons are satisfyingly tactile, with good spacing. I appreciate this no-nonsense approach when shooting quickly.

On the flip side, the Samsung CL80 dazzles with a large 3.7-inch touchscreen that supports touch autofocus and shutter release, a significant usability leap at this price point and era. While it lacks physical dials, Samsung compensates with context-aware menus and gesture controls, which, after some adjustment, I found intuitive. However, I should note that for quick manual settings or rapid shooting sequences, relying solely on a touchscreen can slow you down compared to physical buttons, especially in bright light conditions where screen glare becomes an issue.

Thus, for those who prefer tactile feedback and traditional camera layouts, the Panasonic wins out, while tech-savvy users who favor touch input will enjoy the Samsung’s interface.

Sensor Size, Resolution & Image Quality: The Heart of Imaging

Both cameras are built around CCD sensors measuring 1/2.3” - a common size for compact cameras of their time, offering a sensor area around 28 mm². The Panasonic FH25 features a 16 MP sensor, whereas the Samsung CL80 delivers 14 MP resolution. Although the MP difference is relatively small, it does have implications for detail capture and cropping flexibility.

What this means in practice is subtle: Panasonic’s slightly higher resolution sensor puts out sharper large prints or more room for cropping, but the Samsung’s sensor includes a marginally larger physical area (6.17 x 4.55 mm versus 6.08 x 4.56 mm), which can sometimes translate to better light gathering and dynamic range - but this difference is minimal.

From my testing using calibrated targets and varied lighting, the Panasonic FH25 maintained richer color depth and slightly cleaner images at base ISO 100. The Samsung CL80, with a native ISO low of 80 and max ISO boosting to 6400, handles noise reasonably well for its class but shows more aggressive noise reduction, which may soften fine detail.

Neither supports RAW shooting, which restricts post-processing latitude, but the FH25’s Venus Engine VI processor delivers fairly natural tonal gradations and decent highlight retention, useful for landscape and outdoor shoots.

For portrait photographers prioritizing skin-tone accuracy, the Panasonic edges ahead with more faithful and warm flesh tones, while the Samsung’s colors skew a touch cooler, making it better for daylight scenes but less flattering for people shots. This distinction is important for wedding or family photography.

Display and Live View: How You Frame Your Shots

Both models lack built-in viewfinders, relying entirely on their rear LCDs for composing images. Here, the Samsung CL80 has a notable advantage.

The CL80’s 3.7-inch touchscreen boasts the largest display in this duo and supports touch-to-focus and capture, which can speed up creative framing and subject selection. It has the same 230k pixel resolution as the Panasonic’s 2.7-inch screen, so sharpness is comparable, but the larger size significantly eases viewing in the field.

Since the Panasonic FH25’s smaller screen is fixed and coated with a typical TFT LCD, visibility outdoors under bright light was constrained, and it lacks any touchscreen functionality. In contrast, the Samsung’s screen sees less reflection and better brightness, enhancing the user experience.

For live view photographers or those who like the flexibility of touch controls for focus and shutter release, the Samsung offers a more modern and comfortable interface.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Moment

When it comes to capturing fleeting moments - whether in wildlife, sports, or street photography - the autofocus system and burst shooting performance become crucial.

Here, the Panasonic FH25 uses a contrast-detection system with 11 focus points and face detection enabled. I found its autofocus fairly reliable in daylight but somewhat slow and hesitant in low-light or tricky contrast scenarios.

The Samsung CL80, meanwhile, leverages contrast-detection with center-weighted AF and multi-area options, supplemented by touch focus capability. However, it lacks face or eye tracking. Its autofocus is snappy on simple subjects but struggles when focusing on off-center or fast-moving targets.

The FH25 offers a continuous shooting mode of 4 fps, allowing you a reasonable chance to capture action sequences, while the Samsung does not specify continuous shooting speed - indicating slower or more limited burst capabilities.

So if you prioritize tracking subjects in motion - like wildlife or sports - the Panasonic’s autofocus and framing tools provide better coverage, although neither really matches modern high-end cameras for speed.

Image Stabilization: Reducing Blurry Shots on the Go

Both cameras feature optical image stabilization (OIS), a welcome inclusion in compact cameras that helps reduce blur from hand shake.

In my field tests, I observed the Panasonic’s OIS performed dependably, particularly at telephoto focal lengths (up to 224mm equivalent), delivering sharper handheld shots at slower shutter speeds - very useful for casual wildlife or travel snaps.

The Samsung also offers optical stabilization, but its shorter maximum focal length (217mm equivalent) gives slightly less reach. While effective, stabilization on the CL80 felt a bit less aggressive, meaning you’ll want more light or higher ISO for consistently sharp results at the tele end.

Lens Range and Versatility: Zoom and Macro Performance

Lens zoom versatility significantly influences what shots you can capture without changing gear.

The Panasonic FH25 packs a stronger 8x zoom range starting at 28mm wide-angle equivalent, stretching out to 224mm telephoto. In comparison, Samsung’s CL80 has a slightly narrower 7x zoom, from 31mm to 217mm.

For macro spotlighting, both cameras claim minimum focus distances of 5 cm, a real boon for close-up enthusiasts. In actual use, the Panasonic’s lens delivers consistent sharpness close-up, aided by its OIS, allowing crisper handheld macro shots. The Samsung’s touch AF helped quickly lock focus on small subjects, but I noticed slight focus hunting in dimmer conditions.

Deciding which lens range suits better depends on your shooting priorities - travelers and macro fans might lean Panasonic, while those valuing touchscreen precision could prefer Samsung.

Video Capabilities: Modest but Functional

Both cameras provide HD video recording at 1280 x 720 resolution - fairly standard for their generation - with Panasonic capping at 24fps and Samsung offering 30fps, plus some lower-resolution frame rates.

Neither camera supports advanced codecs or 4K, and both record in Motion JPEG, which yields larger file sizes with less compression efficiency.

The Samsung CL80 includes HDMI output, a feature missing on the Panasonic FH25, providing a slight edge if you plan to view clips on HDTVs without transferring files first.

Audio is limited: no external mic ports on either, so expect basic sound quality. For casual video blogging or family moments, they both suffice, but serious videographers will find them restrictive.

Battery Life and Storage: Shoot More, Stress Less

Battery endurance varies notably here. Panasonic rates the FH25’s battery life at around 250 shots per charge, typical for a compact of this class but somewhat limiting for extended travel.

Samsung’s CL80 lacks official battery life specs, but from my use of the SLB-11A battery type, I noted generally similar shot counts, with the touchscreen being the biggest drain.

Both utilize single card slots but differ in card format: Panasonic uses standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards while Samsung employs MicroSD/MicroSDHC. MicroSD cards can be physically smaller but often read/write slower than full-sized SDs. Keep this in mind especially if you shoot video.

Connectivity and Extras: What’s Missing and What’s Not

Surprisingly, neither model includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS, reflecting their entry-level and early-2010s design focus. If wireless sharing or GPS tagging is important to you, these cameras will fall short without external accessories.

The Panasonic’s USB 2.0 port allows basic PC connectivity but no HDMI output, while the Samsung’s inclusion of HDMI lets you preview images and videos directly on external displays.

Putting it All Together: Performance Summary and Scores

After exhaustive hands-on testing across diverse scenarios, it’s clear that these two budget-friendly compacts serve slightly different niches.

Panasonic FH25 front Panasonic FH25 screen back Samsung CL80 front Samsung CL80 screen back

The Panasonic FH25 excels in image quality thanks to its higher resolution sensor and better tonal rendering, along with a more versatile zoom range and traditional controls that favor reliability and ease in various shooting conditions.

The Samsung CL80, meanwhile, shines with its more modern touchscreen interface and larger viewing screen, conducive to casual shooters who appreciate intuitive control and HD video at a more polished interface level, albeit at a higher price point.

Both cameras have their limits - no RAW support, modest low-light performance, and lackluster continuous shooting - but that’s expected given their class.

Specialized Shooting Scenarios: Who Wins Where?

Portrait Photography

Panasonic’s better skin tone rendering and face detection improve portrait results. The Samsung’s lack of face detection slightly handicaps this use case.

Landscape Photography

Panasonic takes the lead with greater dynamic range, better exposure control, and a wider zoom lens beneficial for composition.

Wildlife and Sports

Neither excels at fast-moving subjects, but Panasonic’s 4 fps burst and face-detection AF edge out Samsung’s slower autofocus and no burst specs.

Street Photography

Samsung’s slim profile and quiet touch controls could suit discreet street shooters, while Panasonic’s chunkier design may attract users who want faster physical access to controls.

Macro Photography

Both good, but Panasonic’s sturdy OIS and lens sharpness in close range give it a subtle advantage.

Night and Astro Photography

Both struggle with noise at high ISO. Panasonic’s max ISO 6400 vs Samsung’s 4800 (native) suggests Panasonic is preferable here, but neither is ideal.

Video Capabilities

Samsung’s 30 fps 720p and HDMI output make it a slightly better casual video camera.

Travel Photography

Panasonic’s longer zoom and robust controls benefit versatility; Samsung’s touchscreen and larger display help faster framing. Battery life is similar.

Professional Usage

Neither camera suits heavy professional work due to lack of RAW, limited controls, and sensor size, but Panasonic’s image quality and stable controls make it a better backup pocket camera.

Final Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

If your budget is around $180 and you want a simple, reliable compact camera for everyday use, family shots, and occasional travel, the Panasonic FH25 offers excellent value, especially if you prioritize image quality and straightforward handling.

If you prefer a more modern touchscreen experience, better video framerate, and a larger rear display, and don’t mind spending over twice as much (~$400), the Samsung CL80 delivers a sleeker interface with marginally better video playback options.

To summarize:

• Choose Panasonic FH25 if you want:

  • Better still image quality with higher resolution
  • More reliable autofocus with face detection
  • Versatile zoom for travel and wildlife snaps
  • Traditional physical controls and tactile buttons
  • Longer recognized battery life and standard SD card use

• Choose Samsung CL80 if you want:

  • Larger touchscreen with touch autofocus and shooting
  • Slightly better HD video frame rates plus HDMI output
  • Ultra-compact design preference
  • More modern UI with quick menu navigation

Parting Thoughts from the Field

In a world increasingly dominated by smartphones and mirrorless marvels, cameras like the Panasonic FH25 and Samsung CL80 serve as reminders of the humble compact camera’s accessible charm. Neither will dazzle pros today, but for casual enthusiasts or as a dedicated backup, each holds unique appeal.

Having used both extensively - controlling for lighting, subject variety, and shooting conditions - I find the Panasonic FH25 my go-to for image fidelity and consistent handling, while the Samsung CL80 wins points for touchscreen fans eager to embrace intuitive interaction on the go.

Your choice ultimately depends on what you prioritize more: raw image quality and control, or modern usability and video function. Hopefully, this detailed comparison equips you with the knowledge you need to pick the best fit for your photographic adventures.

Happy shooting!

If you want to dive deeper into specific use case tests or see output image galleries from my tests, check the embedded photos above - they tell a story words alone sometimes cannot.

Panasonic FH25 front Panasonic FH25 screen back Samsung CL80 front Samsung CL80 screen back