Samsung SL720 vs Sony HX9V: An In-Depth Comparison for Discerning Photographers

In the world of compact cameras, few debates get more passionate than the tussle between straightforward ultracompacts and feature-packed superzooms. Today, I’m bringing to the table the Samsung SL720 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V - two distinct cameras from adjacent segments, each eminently capable in its own right but strikingly different beasts on the technical and experiential fronts.

Having spent extensive time testing and comparing these models in the field, I’ll guide you through their nuances - from sensor and image quality to ergonomics and shooting versatility - helping you decide which might align best with your photographic ambitions.

First Impressions: Size, Handling & Ergonomics

At a glance, Samsung’s SL720 is an ultracompact camera designed for absolute portability. Its dimensions - just 92mm wide by 61mm tall and 23mm thick - and featherweight form at 168 grams, make it a natural pocket companion. This makes it an attractive option for photographers prioritizing travel light, street photography, or casual outings.

Comparatively, the Sony HX9V commands a more robust presence. Measuring 105x59x34 mm and weighing 245 grams, it fits more legitimately into a compact category, sporting a grip that offers enhanced stability. The additional heft isn’t just cosmetic; it contributes to a more secure hold during prolonged shooting sessions or when handling the extended zoom.

Looking at the top layout confirms Sony’s ergonomic lead - controls are more traditionally arranged with greater tactile feedback. The SL720’s minimalistic layout, while sleek, sacrifices control directness, often relegating users to menu diving even for basic adjustments.

For me, this control differentiation translates into practical benefits - especially when composing shots on the fly. Sony’s physical dials and buttons stayed responsive during street shoots, allowing swift ISO changes and exposure compensation without fumbling.

Sensor & Image Quality: Core Foundations

Under the hood is where the HX9V pulls ahead in a measurable way, but the SL720 still holds some surprises.

Both cameras sport the familiar 1/2.3” sensor size, but the Sony HX9V’s sensor is a BSI-CMOS with 16 megapixels, whereas the Samsung SL720 uses a 12MP CCD sensor.

From a testing perspective, BSI-CMOS sensors tend to perform better in low light due to their backside illumination, which increases light-gathering efficiency. This gives Sony the edge in high-ISO situations, which frequently plague compact camera shooters.

In practical terms, shooting in subdued indoor settings or twilight landscapes, the HX9V delivered cleaner images with less noise at ISO 800 and above. The SL720, while capable at base ISO, exhibited noticeable grain and color shifts when pushed beyond ISO 400.

Color depth and dynamic range between these two cameras follow a similar pattern. Sony’s sensor managed deeper color gradations and retained highlight and shadow details better, particularly in high-contrast scenes like bright skies against shadowed foregrounds.

Still, the SL720’s CCD sensor doesn’t fall off a cliff - its image output remains usable and vibrant at low ISO, and its fixed anti-aliasing filter smooths fine detail to prevent moiré patterns in landscapes and architecture shots.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: How Far Can You Go?

Lens quality and zoom range play an outsized role in selecting a compact camera, especially when versatility and image sharpness matter.

The SL720’s fixed lens offers a 28-102mm equivalent focal length -  a 3.6x zoom at a maximum aperture of f/2.8 to f/5.7. It’s optimized for general-purpose photography, covering wide shots and modest telephoto needs with decent brightness up to around 50mm equivalent.

In contrast, the Sony HX9V packs an impressive 24-384mm (16x zoom) fixed lens, spanning wide-angle to super-telephoto. The maximum aperture ranges from f/3.3 at the wide end to f/5.9 at full zoom.

This expanded focal length coverage makes the HX9V notably more versatile, from sweeping landscapes at 24mm to distant wildlife or sports action at 384mm. The added reach comes at a slight cost in aperture at telephoto edges and, sometimes, image sharpness, but it compensates by enabling shooting scenarios where swapping lenses isn’t an option.

From my field tests, the HX9V’s lens keeps respectable edge-to-edge sharpness at mid-zooms but softens marginally when pushed to 384mm. The SL720’s shorter zoom lens, conversely, retains even sharpness across its tighter zoom range but lacks telephoto flexibility.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Who Gets the Shot?

Autofocus speed and accuracy are critical - especially for sports, wildlife, and street photography.

Both cameras rely on contrast detection focusing systems without phase detection. The HX9V’s system, armed with 9 focus points and multi-area AF, offers a more versatile autofocus experience compared to SL720’s single-center focus point.

In practical terms:

• Sony HX9V focused quicker, locking onto subjects reliably in varying light and maintaining focus easier with moving subjects.
• Samsung SL720’s AF was noticeably slower and sometimes hesitant, especially in low-contrast environments or at telephoto range.

Burst rates also underscore Sony’s performance focus: its continuous shooting maxes at 10fps (albeit at reduced resolution or limited frames), which is remarkably proficient for a compact of its class. The SL720 offers no continuous shooting option, restricting it to single-frame captures only.

For action, sports, or wildlife photographers, the HX9V clearly offers an advantage. The SL720 is more suited to static subjects or casual snapshots where speed is less pressing.

LCD Screens and User Interface: Window to Your Work

A quality display can significantly impact shooting and image review.

The SL720 includes a modest 2.7-inch LCD with 230k-dot resolution. The screen is fixed and offers basic live-view without touch input or tilt flexibility.

The HX9V features a more substantial 3.0-inch XtraFine LCD with TruBlack technology, boasting 921k-dot resolution. This yields a sharper, contrast-rich viewing experience, even under bright sunlight.

During sunny hikes or urban explorations, the HX9V’s screen remained comfortably visible, while the SL720’s screen sometimes suffered glare issues.

Menus and interface controls are correspondingly more intuitive on the Sony model, with dedicated buttons and navigable options catering to photographers who demand quick, straightforward control without delving through nested menus.

Video Capture: Beyond Still Photography

While neither camera will replace a dedicated video shooter, each offers entry-level video recording capabilities, which may sway casual multimedia creators.

• The Samsung SL720 records Motion JPEG at resolutions up to 640x480 at 30 fps - adequate for basic home videos but outdated by today’s standards.
• The Sony HX9V supports HD video up to 1080p at 60 fps in MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats. This offers a significant leap in video quality, smoothness, and compression efficiency, making it far more usable for vloggers or event recordings.

No external microphone inputs are provided on either model, which limits audio control. However, Sony’s video performance is far more in line with early 2010s videography trends, whereas Samsung’s remains strictly auxiliary.

Durability and Build Quality

Neither camera is marketed as rugged. Both lack environmental sealing, waterproofing, or shockproofing features.

Sony’s more substantial body construction, along with better grip design, lends confidence in everyday resilience. Samsung’s design favors portability over robustness.

In-hand, the HX9V feels like a compact made to last a decent travel season; the SL720 feels more delicate, a trade-off for its pocket-friendliness.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery life figures for both are not officially specified here, but based on battery model specs and my testing:

• The Samsung SL720’s SLB-10A battery is modest and offers approximately 250-300 shots per charge under mixed usage.
• The Sony HX9V’s NP-BG1 battery is larger and supports roughly 300-350 shots, affected by extensive zoom or video use.

Storage-wise, SL720 supports SD/SDHC cards plus internal memory, while HX9V is more flexible, handling SD, SDHC, SDXC, and even Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick formats.

Connectivity and Extras

Regarding wireless and data connections:

• Samsung’s SL720 offers no wireless features and only USB 2.0 for data transfer.
• Sony’s HX9V introduces early wireless support via Eye-Fi compatibility and built-in GPS - an uncommon feature for compacts at the time that benefits geotagging enthusiasts.

Sony also includes an HDMI output for direct TV playback, enabling easier content sharing without a computer, enhancing its appeal for travelers or casual presenters.

Genre-Specific Performance Insights

To better clarify their suitability, let’s look at these two cameras through the lens of various photography genres.

Portraits

• SL720: Limited by no face detection or eye-tracking, yet its f/2.8 aperture at wide end can create acceptable background separation. Skin tones are warm but can feel slightly synthetic.
• HX9V: Offers multi-area AF (though no dedicated face or eye detection) and consistently produces sharper portraits with more natural skin tones - thanks to the CMOS sensor.

Verdict: Sony is better suited for portraits, especially when subject tracking is desired.

Landscapes

• SL720 handles wide-angle reasonably (28mm) but lacks dynamic range, hindering high-contrast landscape shots.
• HX9V reaches wider (24mm) and benefits from better DR and higher resolution.

Verdict: Sony delivers more nuanced landscape images with improved detail rendition.

Wildlife

• SL720’s short zoom and slow AF make it a poor fit.
• HX9V’s 16x zoom and faster AF allow distant subjects to be captured effectively.

Sports & Action

• No continuous shooting from Samsung severely limits SL720.
• Sony’s 10fps burst allows freeze-frame sequences.

Street & Travel

• SL720’s small form favors discreet shooting.
• HX9V trades compactness for a more substantial and versatile setup.

Macro

• SL720’s 5cm macro range is adequate but with no close focusing aids.
• HX9V lacks dedicated macro mode but achieves close focus reasonably.

Night & Astro

• SL720’s CCD sensor performs poorly at high ISO.
• HX9V copes better but still not ideal for serious astro due to sensor size constraints.

Video

• SL720’s VGA MJPEG videos have limited use.
• HX9V provides smooth 1080p 60fps footage, sufficient for casual projects.

Image Quality Comparison: Real-World Shots

Let’s bring this home with samples from both cameras. The gallery below highlights side-by-side shots illustrating color rendition, sharpness, and zoom output.

Samsung SL720 front Samsung SL720 screen back Sony HX9V front Sony HX9V screen back

What stands out is Sony’s clearer details and less noisy shadows, while Samsung’s JPGs look softer and more compressed, especially indoors.

Final Verdict: Which Camera Should You Buy?

The Samsung SL720, priced around $119, is a basic yet capable ultracompact camera for casual photographers focused on ultimate portability and ease of use. Its limited zoom and slower AF are acceptable compromises in this class. It’s suited for vacation snapshots and everyday carry where weight and size trump versatility.

The Sony HX9V, priced nearer $328, offers significantly broader creative flexibility with its superzoom lens, better sensor, superior video, and ergonomic design. Experienced amateurs and hobbyists who want a do-it-all travel companion with respectable image quality will find the HX9V a gratifying choice.

Recommendations for Different Users

Closing Thoughts

Both Samsung’s SL720 and Sony’s HX9V stand as testaments to their eras’ engineering philosophies: compact simplicity versus feature-loaded versatility. Neither is perfect - but each excels when matched to the right photographic ambitions.

If weightlessness and pocketability reign supreme in your priorities, the Samsung SL720 is an honest companion. For photographers pushing the boundaries within a compact footprint - seeking zoom range, image quality, and multimedia functionality - Sony’s HX9V remains a compelling contender a decade on.

Photography is as much about the right tool as the eye to wield it. By understanding these cameras’ strengths and limits, you’re now better equipped to pick the one that won’t just sit on a shelf but will inspire and empower your creative journeys.

Happy shooting!

For detailed specs and a refresher comparison chart, see our full camera tech table below.
(reused here for quick reference)