Samsung CL80 vs Sony A500

In this article, we will be looking at the Samsung CL80 versus Sony A500, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Samsung and Sony. The image resolution of the CL80 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is pretty close but the CL80 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) use different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The CL80 was announced 5 months later than the A500 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Samsung CL80 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the CL80 scores versus the A500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Samsung CL80 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The whole galleries are provided at Samsung CL80 Gallery and Sony A500 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Samsung CL80 enjoys outer measurements of 104mm x 58mm x 20mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Samsung CL80 versus Sony A500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the CL80 compared to the A500.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the CL80 and A500 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Oftentimes, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing purely by researching specs. The photograph here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the CL80 and A500.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The CL80 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Samsung CL80 will result in greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively.