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Samsung CL80 vs Sony A55

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34
Samsung CL80 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Samsung CL80 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Samsung CL80
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 4800 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 31-217mm (F3.3-5.5) lens
  • 160g - 104 x 58 x 20mm
  • Released January 2010
  • Alternate Name is ST5500
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Renewed by Sony A57
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Samsung CL80 vs Sony A55 Overview

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.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung CL80 over the Sony A55

 CL80 A55 
Display sizing3.7"3"Larger display (+0.7")
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Samsung CL80

 A55 CL80 
LaunchedAugust 2010January 2010More recent by 7 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Samsung CL80 and Sony A55

 CL80 A55 

Samsung CL80 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Samsung CL80 vs Sony A55 size comparison

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

Samsung CL80 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Samsung CL80 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

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.

Samsung CL80 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Samsung CL80 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung CL80 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung CL80 Portrait photography features
Sony A55 Portrait photography features
28
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
73
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung CL80
Street photography with Sony A55
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
has focus by touch
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than competition (160g)
77
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Samsung CL80 Sports photography features
Sony A55 Sports photography features
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung CL80 Travel photography factors
Sony A55 Travel photography factors
60
has focus by touch
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (160g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
62
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung CL80 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A55 as a Landscape photography camera
37
big screen (3.7 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
67
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
not so great battery (380 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung CL80 Vlogging factors
Sony A55 Vlogging factors
27
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
more heavy than competition (160g)
78
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic support
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Samsung CL80 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung CL80 and Sony A55
 Samsung CL80Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Make Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung CL80 Sony SLT-A55
Also called ST5500 -
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-01-06 2010-08-24
Physical type Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4334 x 3256 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 4800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 31-217mm (7.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.5 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 160 gr (0.35 pounds) 500 gr (1.10 pounds)
Dimensions 104 x 58 x 20mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-11A NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double, Motion) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage MicroSD/ MicroSDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $400 $800