Samsung CL5 vs Sony A6600: A Thorough Real-World Camera Showdown for Photo Enthusiasts

Whether you’re a budding shutterbug or a pro scribbling notes in the margins of a contract, selecting the right camera isn’t just about megapixels and lenses - it’s about practical performance, workflow fit, and your photographic ambitions. Today, we pit a vintage ultracompact against a modern mirrorless marvel to explore how two very different cameras stack up across an array of photo and video disciplines. Spoiler alert: this is not your usual apples-to-apples comparison, but that’s exactly why it’s so instructive.

I’ve spent weeks shooting extensively with both the Samsung CL5, a pocket-sized gem from 2009, and the Sony Alpha a6600, a flagship APS-C mirrorless powerhouse from 2019. This hands-on test spanned portraits, landscapes, sports, wildlife - you name it - and I’m here to deliver the verdict from a professional perspective that values real-world experience over marketing blurbs.

Let’s dive in.

Getting to Know the Contenders: Size, Design, and Handling

At first glance, it’s obvious these cameras live in different galaxies. The Samsung CL5 is an ultracompact point-and-shoot, weighing a feathery 141 grams with dimensions that slide effortlessly into any pocket. Meanwhile, the Sony A6600 weighs in at 503 grams and sports a substantial grip and heft, designed to be an extension of your hand rather than a casual prop.

The CL5’s fixed 38–114mm (equivalent) lens and minimal control scheme reflect its “grab-and-go” mindset, perfectly suited for casual snapshots and spontaneous urban shooting. The Sony comes equipped with a renowned Sony E-mount, opening doors to 121+ lenses, from blazing-fast primes to super-telephotos, promising immense creative freedom.

Comparing the top plates illuminates differences in control philosophy: The CL5 limits you to auto modes and a handful of buttons - no manual exposure settings here. In contrast, the A6600 has clubs for thumbs: well-placed dials, customizable buttons, and even a touch-enabled tilting touchscreen for swift focusing and menu navigation. Ergonomics clearly favor the Sony for lengthy sessions, where grip fatigue and access to manual modes matter.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Samsung’s CL5 is basic in build, with no weather sealing or ruggedness claims, easily compromised by dust or splash. The Sony A6600, although not fully rugged, offers partial environmental sealing - a boon for professional landscape or wildlife shooters who often wrestle elements. In professional workflows, reliability and robustness often dictate whether you capture the shot or miss it entirely.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Here’s where the two cameras diverge drastically. The CL5 sports a tiny 1/2.5" CCD sensor measuring just 24.74 mm² and offering 9 megapixels - a standard spec for point-and-shoots a decade ago but quite limited by today’s expectations.

The A6600 wields a modern APS-C CMOS sensor - a mammoth 366.6 mm² area with 24 megapixels. That’s nearly 15x the surface area, letting it gobble more light and deliver higher-resolution captures with improved dynamic range and color fidelity.

When shooting landscapes where detail and tonal gradation matter, the A6600’s sensor provides admirable latitude, retaining shadow and highlight information better and supporting extensive post-processing latitude. The CL5, by contrast, struggles with high-contrast scenes and often produces images with compression artifacts due to its aged sensor.

ISO and Low-Light Performance

The Sony’s native ISO stretches from 100 to a whopping 32,000, expandable to 102,400. Its modern sensor and processor combo produce clean images at ISO 3200 and usable shots even beyond ISO 6400. The Samsung tops out at ISO 3200 but expect significant noise and softness beyond ISO 400 - typical for compact cameras with small sensors and older CCD technology.

From my testing in dim environments, shooting nightlife or astrophotography with the Sony is a rewarding experience, capturing star details and rich ambient light that the CL5 can only dream of.

Autofocus Warfare: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Sony’s 425-point phase-detection autofocus in the a6600 is on another level. It supports real-time eye AF for humans and animals, continuous tracking, and excellent performance even in tricky lighting. I tested it during fast-paced sports and wildlife sessions - tracking birds in flight and racers screaming down tracks - and it nailed focus with remarkable consistency.

The Samsung CL5, with contrast-detection AF and a single center AF point, is more fit for static subjects. Face detection is present but far less reliable and slower. Sports or wildlife photographers will find this limiting - in my tests, fast action frequently resulted in missed focus or hunting, especially in low light.

Versatility Across Photography Genres

Let’s break down how these two contenders fare in major photography disciplines:

Portraits: Skin Tones and Bokeh

For capturing portraits, especially with flattering skin tones and selective focus, the Sony’s larger sensor and fast lenses deliver creamy bokeh and detailed skin rendering. Eye autofocus ensures tack-sharp focus on subjects’ eyes - a game-changer for portrait workflows.

The Samsung’s smaller sensor sacrifices shallow depth of field; the maximum aperture range (f/3.5–4.5) and fixed 3x zoom limit background separation. Expect flatter-looking images with less subject isolation. Face detection helps but isn’t a substitute for precision focus.

Landscapes and HDR

The Sony’s dynamic range rating (DXO: 13.4 stops) enables nuanced landscapes with preserved cloud textures and shadow detail. Its high-resolution files are amenable to large prints and heavy editing. Weather sealing extends its utility outdoors.

The CL5’s sensor offers more modest dynamic range; bright highlights often clip, and shadows lack detail. Though it has a multisegment metering for exposure balance, its small sensor inherently limits quality in expansive scenes.

Wildlife and Sports

Speed is king here, and the A6600 shines with 11 fps continuous shooting paired with reliable autofocus tracking - ideal for unpredictable wildlife or trackside sports. Its crop factor (1.5x) boosts the effective reach of telephoto lenses, performing well even with modest glass.

The CL5, lacking burst shooting or advanced AF tracking, is hampered for rapid action. It’s more a “record the moment” tool than a serious sports camera.

Street Photography

Here, size and discretion matter - a category where the CL5’s petite form factor offers stealthy mounting and fast on-the-fly framing. Its quiet operation encourages candid shots.

The Sony, although compact for a mirrorless, is noticeably larger and heavier. The silent electronic shutter mitigates noise but its presence may still attract curious eyes. Still, it affords superior image quality, especially for low-light street scenes.

Macro Photography

Neither camera specializes in macro, but the Samsung offers a minimum focusing distance of 5 cm. Its fixed lens does allow close-ups with decent magnification, albeit limited by sensor size and optics.

The Sony, with the ability to attach dedicated macro lenses and in-body 5-axis stabilization, provides far better control and results for macro enthusiasts. Its advanced AF aids precise focus on tiny subjects.

Night and Astrophotography

The Sony’s 5-axis sensor stabilization, vast ISO range, and manual control options enable longer exposures and cleaner images at night. Features like silent shutter and interval timelapse recording open creative doors for astrophotographers.

The CL5 records only VGA video at 30fps, no timelapse, and no stabilization, limiting its nighttime photography potential to static handheld shots.

Video Capabilities

The A6600 is a serious video contender with 4K UHD 30p recording, microphone and headphone jacks for audio monitoring, and compatibility with professional video accessories. Contrast this with the CL5’s limited motion JPEG VGA videos without dedicated ports or stabilization - not a viable tool for content creators requiring quality video.

Travel and Everyday Use

Here, a balance of portability, battery life, and versatility matters.

The Samsung’s ultra-compact body shines for street travel, fitting into any tiny pocket, but battery life specifics are vague - likely minimal. The Sony is heavier but boasts an impressive 810-shot battery life using the high-capacity NP-FZ1000 pack, crucial for long days exploring remote locations without charging.

User Interface and Controls: Navigating the Experience

The CL5's fixed 2.7-inch screen, modest 230K resolution, and absence of touchscreen or customizable controls limit usability. Menus feel basic, with no manual exposure options or bracketing modes to experiment with.

On the flip side, the Sony A6600 wows with a vibrant 3-inch tilting touchscreen displaying 922K dots, supporting touch focus and menu interaction. Physical buttons, a top-plate dial, and a richly featured electronic viewfinder boost responsiveness and accuracy - particularly appreciated during fast shooting or low-light composition.

Battery Life and Connectivity

Samsung keeps it simple with proprietary battery details unclear, and no wireless features, USB port, or HDMI output. Data transfer involves removing the SD card for most users.

Sony, however, integrates Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB charging, and HDMI, enabling easy tethering and remote shooting via apps. The single SD slot supports SDXC cards, while the robust NP-FZ1000 battery is a known workhorse.

Lens Ecosystem and Expandability

Samsung CL5 front Samsung CL5 screen back Sony A6600 front Sony A6600 screen back

The CL5’s fixed lens is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it demands zero fuss; on the other, it offers no room for expansion or specialized optics - no wide angles, no primes, no telephotos beyond 114mm equiv.

Sony’s E-mount system is among the most prolific today, backed by Sony, third-party manufacturers like Sigma and Tamron, and even vintage manual lenses via adapters. From ultra-wide landscapes to super-telephoto wildlife lenses, the a6600 can handle them all - future-proofing your investment.

Price-to-Performance Analysis

At a street price around $391 (used or refurbished), the Samsung CL5 is a nostalgic throwback. It appeals to absolute beginners, cheapskates hunting for a bargain compact, or collectors wanting a secondary snapshot camera.

The Sony A6600, retailing around $1,198, commands a premium, but justifiably so. Its modern features, quality, and expandability position it as a versatile tool for enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Professional Considerations and Workflow Integration

For freelancers, portrait studios, or photojournalists, raw file support, color depth, and flexible controls are non-negotiables. The a6600 outputs 14-bit RAW files with 23.8 bits of color depth (DXO Announced), significantly enhancing retouching precision.

Samsung CL5 files are limited to JPEG with no RAW capture, severely restricting post-processing latitude. For professional workflows requiring tethered shooting, consistent color profiles, and video quality, the Sony clearly leads.

How They Score Overall and by Photography Genre

Overall, the Sony A6600 earns high marks across technical benchmarks, image quality, autofocus speed, and video capabilities, while the CL5’s strengths lie in portability and casual outing shoots.

Breaking it down: The Sony dominates in portraits, wildlife, sports, landscape, and video. The Samsung clings on in candid street and casual macro shots, where complexity is less critical.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Samsung CL5

Pros:

• Ultra-compact and lightweight
• Easy-to-use interface for beginners
• Fixed lens with decent zoom range for everyday shooting
• Affordable, widespread availability used

Cons:

• Small CCD sensor limits image quality and low-light capability
• No manual controls or RAW support
• Poor autofocus performance for action or low-light
• No viewfinder or stabilization
• Video resolution capped at 640x480 (VGA)

Sony Alpha a6600

Pros:

• Large APS-C sensor with 24MP resolution and excellent image quality
• Advanced autofocus: 425 phase-detection points, real-time eye and animal AF
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization
• 4K video recording with professional audio connections
• Robust build with weather sealing
• Long battery life (~810 shots)
• Extensive lens ecosystem and accessory support
• Tilting touchscreen and high-res electronic viewfinder

Cons:

• Heavier and bulkier than compacts
• No built-in flash (external required)
• Pricey relative to entry-level cameras
• Single SD card slot (some pros prefer dual card slots for backup)

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Choosing between the Samsung CL5 and Sony A6600 is really about choosing your photographic destiny.

If you’re a casual snapshooter, cheapskate on a budget, or need a secondary pocketable camera, the Samsung CL5 still delivers easy-to-use point-and-shoot fun with respectable image quality for quick social media. Its size and simplicity shine for street photography and travel where gear weight must be near zero.

For enthusiasts, hybrid content creators, or pros looking for a versatile beast that covers nearly every genre, the Sony A6600 is a workhorse. Its rich feature set, superb autofocus, and stellar sensor quality make it a future-proof tool capable of delivering professional results across portrait, landscape, sports, wildlife, macro, and video applications.

The A6600 is an investment in capability and control, well worth the higher price if photography is more than a casual hobby. Meanwhile, the CL5’s charm is in its minimalist, barrier-free approach - useful but very much bound by its era’s technological limits.

In Closing: My Personal Take

After having a blast carrying both cameras through city streets, national parks, soccer games, and star-studded nights, I can confidently say that they serve distinct audiences.

The Samsung CL5 is a “throw it in your pocket and shoot” buddy with limited ambitions - which it fulfills admirably. The Sony A6600 demands some budget and brainpower but rewards with incredible versatility and image quality that can sustain professional work.

If you want a dependable workhorse, go with the Sony A6600. If you want a no-frills, fun pocket camera for casual use, the Samsung CL5 still has a place.

Happy shooting, and may your next camera be the best companion for your photographic journey!

The End