Samsung CL80 vs Sony A55

Its time to look much closer at the Samsung CL80 vs Sony A55, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Samsung and Sony. The image resolution of the CL80 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is very close but the CL80 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The CL80 was revealed 7 months before the A55 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Samsung CL80 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summation of how the CL80 matches up vs the A55 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Samsung CL80 and Sony SLT-A55. The full galleries are viewable at Samsung CL80 Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.

If you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Samsung CL80 has got physical dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 20mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Sony A55 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

See the Samsung CL80 vs Sony A55 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the CL80 vs the A55.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the CL80 and A55 is 95 and 67 respectively.

Quite often, it is very difficult to picture the difference in sensor measurements simply by looking through specifications. The photograph here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the CL80 and A55.

Plainly, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The CL80 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Sony A55 will result in extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The older CL80 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.