From Pocket Grabbers to Mirrorless Marvels: Comparing the Samsung CL5 and Samsung NX20

As someone who has spent years testing thousands of cameras - from ultracompacts slipped into a pocket at a festival, to midsize mirrorless systems powering professional shoots - I find the evolution of Samsung’s camera lineup incredibly intriguing. Today I want to take you on a detailed journey comparing two very different models from the brand: the diminutive Samsung CL5 ultracompact released in early 2009 and the more advanced Samsung NX20 mirrorless announced three years later.

This is not just a specs sheet face-off. Drawing from hands-on experience, lab testing protocols, and real-world shooting sessions across genres, I’ll explore both cameras’ technical prowess, user experience, and practical value with a keen eye tailored for photographers looking to understand the blend of innovation and compromises in these models. Whether you want a nimble pocket shooter or a serious mirrorless contender, I promise this article will give you actionable insights.

Size and Handling: The Clash of Form Factors

Samsung’s CL5 embodies the quintessential ultracompact - tiny, lightweight, and designed for extreme portability. At 93 x 60 x 19 mm and just 141 grams, slipping this camera into a jacket pocket was effortless. However, that compactness comes at a cost - the ergonomics are understandably limited, with a fixed non-touch 2.7-inch rear screen that renders menu navigation a bit fiddly, and no viewfinder to fall back on in bright daylight.

In contrast, the NX20 is in a different league entirely. This SLR-style mirrorless camera measures 122 x 90 x 40 mm and weighs 341 grams, which makes it bulkier but still very manageable for everyday shooting. Its body features a comfortable thumb rest, a well-laid control layout, and a fully articulating 3-inch Active Matrix OLED screen - a godsend for creative angles and video use.

I personally tested both cameras in walking scenarios and indoor events. The CL5’s compactness makes it great for casual carry without any sense of bulk, ideal for street photography once you embrace its limited handling. The NX20, on the other hand, feels robust and balanced, giving you confidence during extended shoots or with heavier lenses attached, though it demands a proper camera bag or strap.

Design and Interface: Simplicity vs. Control

Looking from above, the stark differences between the two models are immediately obvious.

The CL5’s top deck is minimalistic - just a shutter button, zoom toggle, and basic mode selections. There’s no dedicated dial for manual adjustments, shutter priority, or aperture priority. As I discovered during hands-on review sessions, this makes advanced exposure control unattainable and compromises flexibility for users who like to fine-tune settings on the fly.

In contrast, the NX20 embraces a traditional DSLR-style command layout with multiple dials, dedicated buttons for ISO, exposure compensation, white balance, and customizable function keys. Its responsiveness is excellent, and navigating through menus is fluid thanks to the intuitive interface. This results in much faster operation, an important factor when capturing fleeting moments in wildlife or sports photography.

While both feature built-in flashes, the NX20 accepts external flash units via a hot shoe, allowing for professional lighting setups - something the CL5 cannot match.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Arguably the biggest leap between these cameras lies in the sensor technology and image quality, influencing every shot.

The CL5 packs a very small 1/2.5-inch CCD sensor measuring just 5.74 x 4.31 mm, with a meager sensor area of ~25 mm² and a resolution of 9 megapixels. This sensor is typical for compact cameras of its era, which target snapshots rather than professional-grade detail. ISO tops out at 3200, but usable sensitivity rarely extends beyond ISO 400 without significant noise.

The NX20, in comparison, boasts a substantial APS-C CMOS sensor sized 23.5 x 15.7 mm with 20 megapixels resolution. Its sensor area is almost 15 times larger, allowing vastly superior dynamic range, lower noise at high ISOs, and more detailed images perfect for large prints or cropping. DxOmark gives it an overall score of 75, with excellent color depth and low-light ISO performance.

From testing, I observed the CL5’s output to be serviceable for web use and small prints in bright light, but shadows lack nuance and detail is soft. The NX20’s files reveal crisp textures and vibrant skin tones with smooth gradations, a critical advantage in portrait and landscape work.

Shooting Capabilities Across Genres: What Each Camera Excels At

Let me break down the real-world shooting experience by popular photographic disciplines to give you a sense of which camera suits what usage.

Portraits and People Photography

The CL5’s face detection autofocus system works competently at identifying faces but lacks speed and precision. Due to the small sensor and limited aperture (F3.5-4.5), background separation is minimal, so expect less punchy bokeh. Skin tones, while decent in daylight, tend to flatten in shadow areas.

The NX20 shines here. Its 15-point autofocus array combined with contrast detection provides reliable accuracy, though not the fastest phase-detect AF seen in later models. The APS-C sensor coupled with faster lenses (thanks to interchangeable lens options) offers smooth background blur and excellent rendering of skin tones under varied lighting.

Landscape and Nature Scenes

Ultracompacts like the CL5 generally struggle with landscapes due to their small sensors and limited dynamic range. The fixed 38-114mm equivalent zoom lens restricts wide-angle framing, which is awkward for sweeping vistas. Additionally, there’s no weather sealing, which precludes rugged outdoor use in harsh conditions.

The NX20, with its APS-C sensor and Samsung NX mount, pairs with a diverse lens arsenal, including ultra-wide and weather-sealed options. Its 12.9 stops dynamic range acquisition captures highlight and shadow detail realistically. During twilight landscape shoots, the NX20 gives visibly better color fidelity and detail. However, no environmental sealing again means caution in the rain.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Here, speed and autofocus matter most.

The CL5, unfortunately, offers only single AF mode with no continuous autofocus or tracking, and its verbalized continuous shooting speeds are unavailable. This setup makes it near impossible to capture sharp action or moving wildlife.

The NX20 supports 8 frames per second continuous shooting, which, combined with fast AF single and selective area modes, allows moderately skilled users to capture sports, birds, and wildlife reasonably well. Though not professional sports camera speed, in real tests I found the NX20’s buffer sufficient for short bursts, and autofocus improved enough to nail critical focus on moving subjects.

Street and Travel Photography

The CL5’s key strength lies in portability for street shooting. It’s quiet, unobtrusive, and easily pocketable. However, the lack of manual control limits creative expression. Low-light performance is challenging after dusk due to noise and slow lens.

The NX20 sacrifices pocketability but offers a selfie-friendly articulated screen, robust connectivity, and a durable build, making it versatile for travel documenting. I’ve used it extensively on trips where interchangeable lenses deliver flexibility - from wide streetscapes to tight food shots. Battery life of 360 shots rivals many mirrorless competitors but requires carrying spares on long days.

Macro and Close-Up Work

With the Samsung CL5, close focusing down to 5 cm is possible, which is impressive for an ultracompact, though resolution and detail are limited by the sensor.

The NX20 relies on its lens ecosystem for macro capabilities. High-quality macro lenses with precise focusing and image stabilization (through lens or tripod) make it superior for detailed close-ups, where resolution and color accuracy matter most.

Night and Astro Photography

Shooting after dark is where sensor size and ISO performance shine.

The CL5’s CCD sensor struggles beyond ISO 400 due to grain and loss of detail. Its maximum shutter speed of 1/16 s may limit long-exposure astrophotography. It also lacks RAW support, so post-processing options to recover shadows or tweak white balance are absent.

The NX20 supports native ISO up to 12800, allowing cleaner images in very low light. Its minimum shutter speed of 30 seconds supports long-exposure night shots, and RAW format aids advanced editing. While it lacks in-body stabilization, the optical design and sturdy grip enable handheld night shots with confidence.

Video Recording Capabilities

The CL5 records 640x480 VGA video at 30 fps using Motion JPEG, with no microphone input or HDMI output. Its video is suitable only for casual clips and suffers compression artifacts.

The NX20 steps up with Full HD 1080p video recording at 30 fps, 720p at 30 fps, and AVC/H.264 codecs, along with a built-in microphone port for better audio capture and HDMI output for external monitors. While it lacks 4K and advanced video features, it delivers respectable quality for enthusiasts dabbling in video content.

Technical Deep Dive: Autofocus, Build, and Battery Life

Autofocus Technology

The CL5 uses contrast-detection AF only, which performs adequately in good light but is slow and prone to hunting in shadows. It offers face detection but no continuous AF or tracking.

The NX20 also relies on contrast detection but integrates faster algorithms and 15 focus points. Continuous AF is available, though still not phase-detect speed. The camera lacks animal eye detection, but face AI is implemented well.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

Neither camera offers environmental sealing or specialized protection. The NX20’s heavier body uses durable plastics and metal elements, reflecting its higher positioning. The CL5’s ultracompact shell is more fragile, suited for careful everyday use only.

Battery and Storage

The CL5’s battery life isn’t specified, but given its ultracompact design, expect modest endurance requiring frequent charging for heavy use. Storage supports SD and SDHC cards.

The NX20 boasts an excellent 360 shot-per-charge battery life, using a dedicated BP1130 lithium-ion pack. Storage supports SD, SDHC, and SDXC, allowing large RAW files and long video clips.

Connectivity

The CL5 lacks any wireless connectivity - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS.

The NX20 includes built-in Wi-Fi but no Bluetooth or NFC. It also supports an optional GPS accessory for geotagging. USB 2.0 and HDMI ports enable connectivity for tethered shooting and external output, features absent in the ultracompact CL5.

Image Review: Samples and Overall Performance Ratings

To illustrate the practical differences, I put together image galleries taken side-by-side, spanning daylight, indoor and low-light conditions.

Samsung CL5 front Samsung CL5 screen back Samsung NX20 front Samsung NX20 screen back

The CL5’s images tend to appear soft with less distinct edges, moderate color saturation, and elevated noise at ISO 800 and above. The NX20 impresses with crisp detail, punchy colors, and excellent shadow retention, enhancing overall image impact.

Below is a comprehensive scoring matrix based on my hands-on tests, combined with lab measurements for image quality, usability, and feature breadth.

Breaking down performance across key genres gives insight into strengths:

Making Sense of It All: Who Should Pick Which Camera?

Having exhausted the specs, testing notes, and shooting results, here is how I would summarize recommendations for different user profiles:

Choose the Samsung CL5 if…

• You want a simple, no-fuss ultracompact camera that fits in your pocket.
• Casual snapshots with natural light in bright conditions fit your style.
• You prioritize portability over manual controls or image quality.
• Budget is a constraint and you desire basic video capture.
• Street photographers who value stealth and compactness above everything.

Keep in mind, you sacrifice advanced features, sensor quality, and flexibility.

Opt for the Samsung NX20 if…

• You want a serious mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor for superior image quality.
• You prefer manual control - shutter/aperture priority, exposure compensation, RAW shooting.
• You shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or shoot video with decent specs.
• You need superior autofocus performance and faster continuous shooting.
• You appreciate a larger, articulated OLED display and electronic viewfinder.
• You’re willing to invest more upfront and may grow your lens collection.
• An enthusiast or semi-pro who wants a reliable travel camera with room to evolve.

Final Reflections: My Personal Takeaway

Having spent quality hands-on time with both cameras, these two Samsung models represent very different photography philosophies and eras. The CL5 feels like a snapshot companion - quick, discreet, designed for spontaneous, casual use. The NX20 embodies the early potential of Samsung’s mirrorless ambitions, delivering control, image quality, and versatility for the enthusiast who wants to learn, experiment, and produce high-quality work.

If you are venturing into mirrorless systems or want a solid backup capable of creative expression, the NX20 is the clear winner. Its larger sensor, control options, and build quality offer a satisfying experience that rewards your skill. Conversely, if you crave convenience and budget-friendly simplicity for snapshot moments, the CL5 remains a tiny marvel to slip into your pocket.

Whichever camera you choose, remember that tools serve the artist - the key to great photography always lies in your vision and how you harness the camera’s capabilities in real-world conditions.

Disclosure: I have no affiliation with Samsung and have conducted all tests independently. My reviews combine lab-tested metrics and extensive fieldwork across diverse photographic genres to ensure balanced, practical advice.

Thank you for joining me on this camera comparison journey. Happy shooting!