Comparing the Samsung CL80 and Sigma DP2 Quattro: Compact Cameras for Distinct Photography Preferences

Picking the right camera when faced with such varied options as the Samsung CL80 and the Sigma DP2 Quattro feels like navigating two different photography worlds altogether. Both cameras bear the compact moniker, yet they cater to fundamentally different needs, skill sets, and expectations. Having spent years testing cameras from ultracompacts to professional beasts, I find this comparison particularly engaging. In this extensive side-by-side, I’ll unpack their technical hearts, real-world shooting nuances, and help you decide which of these two sits best with your photography style.

Let’s set aside the jargon upfront: one is a 2010-era ultracompact with broad zoom reach - the other a 2014 large-sensor compact laser-focused on image quality over everything else. Much like comparing a Swiss army knife to a dedicated chef’s knife, each serves unique purposes. Read on for deep dives and hands-on insights.

How They Feel in Your Hands: Size and Build

At first touch, size and ergonomics can sway your enthusiasm far more than megapixels or fancy menu options. The Samsung CL80 is remarkably compact - truly pocketable - measuring just 104x58x20mm and weighing 160 grams. It slides easily into a jacket pocket or a small purse. Its build is lightweight plastic, cooked to minimalism but with a decent grip for casual shooting. This ultraportable nature appeals to those wanting a no-fuss grab-and-go camera.

Conversely, Sigma’s DP2 Quattro is a chunkier piece with a more deliberate footprint - 161x67x82mm and weighing nearly 400 grams. It feels substantial but balanced in hand, designed to command respect. The boxy shape allows for comfortable handling over longer shoots, despite lacking a traditional DSLR-esque grip.

Check out the size comparison to visualize this well:

Here you can clearly see the thin profile of the CL80 versus the bulkier but sturdier DP2 Quattro. This size difference speaks volumes for their core design philosophies: portability versus precision handling.

Top View and Controls: How Quickly Can You Access Settings?

When I test cameras, the control layout and how quickly you can change key settings are vital. The Samsung CL80 keeps things simple - a typical compact approach with minimal buttons, a straightforward zoom rocker, and a touchscreen covering most interface needs. There’s no dedicated dial for modes or manual exposure controls to mess with. Perfect for a casual user who wants to shoot without diving into menus.

The Sigma DP2 Quattro, on the other hand, presents a more refined control scheme on top, tailored for photographers who want manual exposure, aperture priority, and real-time shutter speed adjustments. You’ll find buttons for ISO, exposure compensation, and dedicated dials for precise tuning. It’s less about point-and-shoot and more about deliberate photography.

Here’s a look at both from above:

If you prefer your camera to be an extension of your photographic intent, the DP2 feels like a proper tool; the CL80 is more casual companion than creative instrument.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Core Difference

Now, here’s where the story gets juicy. The Samsung CL80 sports a small 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with 14 megapixels. This sensor size is typical for ultraportable compacts - good enough for snapshots, but it inherently limits dynamic range, low light performance, and depth of field control. The CCD sensor in CL80 tends to produce punchy color saturation, but noise creeps in at ISO 800 and above.

The Sigma DP2 Quattro, however, is a game changer in that it uses a proprietary Foveon X3 CMOS sensor sized APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm), sporting a 20-megapixel equivalent output with a unique layered design capturing full color information at each pixel site. This sensor’s larger physical size (almost 13 times sensor area compared to CL80) allows for superior dynamic range, finer detail, and cleaner images at high ISOs.

Let’s put this complex tech side by side:

I’ve extensively tested the DP2 Quattro’s images, and they impress with outstanding color depth and crispness, especially given the fixed 45mm f/2.8 lens. It lacks image stabilization, but for landscapes, portraits, and fine art photography, its sensor delivers. Conversely, CL80’s sensor is best reserved for bright daylight or casual family snaps.

Viewing and Composition: Screen and Interface

On a daily basis, how you compose shots is hugely influenced by LCD quality and feedback responsiveness. Samsung’s CL80 features a large, fixed 3.7-inch touchscreen with relatively modest 230k resolution. It’s bright and user-friendly, making menu navigation accessible, but the low pixel count means preview images and playback lack sharpness. Touch response is solid and intuitive, especially for zooming and focus selection.

Sigma’s DP2 Quattro offers a smaller 3-inch TFT LCD with a very high 920k-dot resolution. Though it’s not touch-enabled, the screen’s crispness and accurate color reproduction help compose images precisely. Given the camera’s manual orientation, the lack of touch controls isn’t a downside; physical buttons and dials take center stage.

Here’s their rear LCD side by side:

For live view lovers and those used to modern touchscreen tech, the CL80 looks friendlier. But if you prioritize sharp image preview for accurate focusing and exposure, the DP2’s screen is clearly superior.

How They Perform Across Photography Genres

Let’s move on to how each camera handles various photographic disciplines. Here’s a breakdown based on field tests augmented by my 15+ years’ experience:

Portraits: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

The CL80, with its 31-217mm zoom and small sensor, struggles to isolate subjects with creamy backgrounds. Its F3.3-5.5 aperture doesn’t provide shallow depth of field, so portraits tend to be flatter. Autofocus is contrast-detection only, with a center-weighted system - no face or eye detection capabilities - making focus accuracy hit or miss, especially for moving subjects. Skin tones come out warm but a touch plasticky under tricky lighting.

By contrast, the DP2 Quattro’s APS-C sensor combined with the fixed 45mm F2.8 lens delivers natural skin tones with impressive color fidelity. It has contrast-detection AF with face detection, a rarity in its category, and manual focus for fine control. Bokeh is limited by the F2.8 aperture but still noticeably more pronounced and pleasing than the CL80’s. I personally enjoy using the DP2 for intimate portraits where fine detail and color nuance matter most.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Resolution

Here, sensor size truly matters. The DP2’s larger sensor yields higher resolution images (5424x3616) with rich detail retention in shadow and highlight areas. Coupled with its long exposure capabilities (up to 30 seconds) and robust manual controls including exposure bracketing, it’s designed for careful compositions in variable light.

Samsung’s CL80 offers decent resolution (4334x3256) but limited dynamic range and struggles with highlight clipping on bright skies. Its minimum shutter speed maxes out at 8 seconds, limiting night or long exposure landscapes. Weather sealing is absent for both, but the DP2’s sturdy design feels confident enough despite no official sealing.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus Speed and Burst Rates

The CL80 lacks continuous autofocus and continuous burst modes, which pretty much rules it out for serious action photography. Its zoom can reach 217mm equivalent, but focus and shutter lag impede capturing decisive moments.

The DP2 Quattro also doesn’t excel here - limited to a 3 fps burst, manual focus preferred, and no continuous tracking autofocus. Telephoto capabilities are non-existent with the fixed 45mm lens, restricting reach. Neither camera is designed for fast-paced sports or wildlife.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

This is a toss-up. The Samsung CL80 wins on weight and pocketability, making it less conspicuous for candid shooting. The touchscreen aids quick framing. Yet image quality constraints mean results can fall short in dim conditions.

The DP2 Quattro, while bulkier, offers more creative control and higher quality files, valuable if you plan post-processing or printing large. Its quiet shutter and manual focus suit a slow, deliberate street photographer.

Macro Photography: Focusing Precision and Magnification

The CL80 can focus as close as 5cm, aided by optical image stabilization, making it a reasonable choice for casual macro close-ups – think flowers or small objects. The DP2 Quattro doesn’t specify macro range, and lacking image stabilization makes close-up work more challenging unless you have a tripod or very steady hands.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Options

The DP2 Quattro’s native ISO range (100-6400) and longer shutter speeds make it better suited for night photography, despite no built-in stabilization. Its APS-C sensor performs admirably up to ISO 1600 with minimal noise.

The Samsung CL80, with a max ISO 4800 but small sensor, suffers from image degradation above ISO 400, and its max 8-second timer limits star trail or astrophotography use.

Video Capabilities: Which Camera Makes Movies?

Samsung CL80 offers basic video capture up to 1280x720 at 30fps in Motion JPEG format, which is archaic by today’s standards and lacks microphone input or stabilization beyond optical.

The Sigma DP2 Quattro has no video recording feature - its emphasis is pure still photography.

Travel Photography: Versatility, Battery Life, and Size

The CL80 fits the travel bill for those wanting a lightweight companion with long zoom range. However, battery life information is scant, and storage uses MicroSD cards, convenient but slower for backups.

The DP2 Quattro, heavier and more specific in focal length, suits travelers prioritizing image quality over weight. Battery life is average for large sensor compacts, but again specifics are limited.

Samsung CL80 front Samsung CL80 screen back Sigma DP2 Quattro front Sigma DP2 Quattro screen back

You can see here how the DP2 Quattro’s files exhibit richer textures and colors, while the CL80’s images feel more ‘snapshootery’ - crisp but lacking depth.

Build Quality and Weatherproofing: Can They Take a Beating?

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, waterproofing, or rugged build - typical for their classes and intended uses. The CL80’s plastic body is portable but fragile, while the DP2’s solid construction withstands bumps better but remains indoor-oriented.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Reliability

Samsung’s CL80 AF is contrast detection only, with basic center-weighting and limited selective AF areas - enough for static subjects but prone to hunting in lower light.

Sigma DP2 Quattro uses contrast detection enhanced by a 9-point AF system and face detection, with manual focus assistance through focus peaking. It affords greater precision, though AF speed lags behind modern hybrid systems.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Both cameras have fixed lenses: the CL80 spans 31-217mm (7x zoom) which is versatile but modest quality, while the DP2 Quattro’s 45mm F2.8 prime offers exceptional sharpness and character ideal for portraits and landscapes but no flexibility.

Storage and Connectivity Options

Samsung CL80 records to MicroSD/SDHC cards and includes a USB 2.0 port and HDMI out, but no wireless features - understandable for its era.

Sigma DP2 Quattro has a single storage slot (likely SD-based), USB 2.0, but no HDMI or wireless connectivity. Given its 2014 launch, no WiFi or Bluetooth is a downside for instant sharing.

Battery and Power Considerations

Both cameras use proprietary batteries (SLB-11A for CL80 and BP-51 for DP2), but official battery life ratings aren’t well documented. The DP2’s larger sensor and processor suggest shorter shooting times between charges.

Price-to-Performance: What Do You Get for the Cost?

At around $400 new (in 2010) the Samsung CL80 retails as a budget-friendly ultracompact offering versatile zoom and ease of use. Its tech is outdated by today’s standards but still serves snapshot enthusiasts.

The Sigma DP2 Quattro, near $930 at launch, targets serious enthusiasts craving large sensor benefits in a pocketable format but sacrifices zoom and video. Its price reflects its specialized sensor and image quality advantages.

The Sigma DP2 Quattro scores higher in overall image quality and control, while Samsung CL80 ranks better in portability and general ease.

How Do They Score Across Photography Genres?

Looking at how each camera shines depending on photographic needs:

You’ll notice that the DP2 Quattro excels in portraits, landscapes, and low-light scenarios where detail and color depth matter; meanwhile, the CL80 suits casual travel, snapshot, and street scenarios better given its compact size and zoom flexibility.

Final Thoughts: Picking Your Winner

If you are a casual user seeking a pocketable camera with a versatile zoom for everyday shots, family events, or travel without fuss, the Samsung CL80 offers simplicity and portability at a modest price. Its drawbacks - small sensor, middling image quality, and lack of manual controls - are acceptable trade-offs.

For enthusiasts and professionals prioritizing image quality, color fidelity, and manual control in a compact large-sensor package, the Sigma DP2 Quattro stands out. It demands deliberate shooting, limited zoomability, and adapts less well to fast-action or video, but rewards with exceptional image files suitable for fine art, portraiture, and landscape.

My personal preference leans toward the DP2 Quattro if image quality and control top your list, despite its bulk and price. The Samsung CL80, while dated, remains a charming point-and-shoot for minimalists valuing convenience.

Have any questions about these cameras? Want sample RAW files for closer inspection? I’ve collected extensive galleries and analysis from hundreds of shooting hours - feel free to ask!

Choosing the right tool depends on your priorities, shooting style, and budget. I hope this detailed comparison helps you find your next reliable companion for creating compelling images.

Happy shooting!