Samsung SL820 vs Sony TX7

Compact Showdown: Samsung SL820 vs Sony TX7 – Which Tiny Shooter Wins Your Pocket?

Choosing a compact camera in today’s smartphone-dominated world might seem like an uphill battle. However, for photography enthusiasts craving a little more control, larger zooms, or specialized functionality, these pocket-sized gems still pack a punch. Today, I’ll be sharing my hands-on impressions and in-depth comparison of two notable small-sensor compacts from the late 2000s/early 2010s era - the Samsung SL820 and the Sony Cyber-shot TX7. Both were marketed as ultraportables but with different design philosophies, feature sets, and image quality ambitions. Having tested thousands of cameras over the years, I’ve put these two through the paces to offer insight into their real-world strengths, weaknesses, and ideal users.

Let’s crack open this camera cage match, starting with their physicality and design.

Pocket-Size and Handling: Squeezing Performance Into Small Bodies

On paper, these cameras look very alike - both weighing under 170g and roughly the same footprint. The Samsung SL820 sports a slightly chunkier profile (95x59x23mm) compared to the leaner Sony TX7 (98x60x18mm), but it’s barely noticeable unless you’re tossing them repeatedly into your pockets.

Ergonomically, this small difference matters. The Samsung opts for a more straightforward compact form - quite comfy for relaxed shooting but lacking any significant grip or textured surfaces. It’s one of those cameras you cradle gently rather than hold like a pro tool.

Sony’s TX7, on the other hand, embraces its ultraportable ethos with a slim, almost candy-bar style profile that slips effortlessly into just about any pocket - or even a smaller handbag.

Comparing their control layouts from the top view shows how differently these companies prioritize handling.

Samsung’s button arrangement is minimalistic: a discrete shutter button, zoom rocker, and power switch. This simplicity appeals to users who prefer idiot-proof operation without the clutter of too many clubs for thumbs. Unfortunately, it sacrifices quick access to advanced settings.

Sony’s TX7 offers a similarly minimalist layout but adds a practical touchscreen interface on the rear (more on that shortly), which offsets its spared physical button real estate. For casual shooters chasing swift composition and playback, a well-implemented touchscreen can be a godsend.

For travelers or street photographers valuing stealth and speed, the Sony may feel less fiddly, although both lack dedicated manual controls.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: Punching Above Their Weight

Many shooters underestimate how much sensor size impacts final image quality. Both cameras pack small 1/2.3” sensor footprints, but the Sony’s sensor is a fraction larger (27.94mm² vs Samsung’s 27.72mm²), using a BSI-CMOS design compared to Samsung’s older CCD sensor.

What does this mean in practice? Sensor technology heavily influences low-light performance, dynamic range, color rendition, and noise control.

Sony’s TX7, with its backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, generally delivers better high ISO performance and lower noise - especially critical for shooting indoors, in shadowed street scenes, or at dusk.

Samsung’s CCD sensor has a classic warm color cast and can yield slightly sharper images under ideal lighting, but it struggles more past ISO 400 due to inherent noise.

In terms of resolution, Samsung offers a 12MP sensor vs Sony’s 10MP. That difference seems minor but translates to Samsung’s top native resolution of 4000×3000 pixels - a nice edge for cropping or printing medium-sized photos.

Yet, it’s the sensor technology, not just megapixels, that dictates usable image quality. Sony’s newer sensor type also helps with burst rate performance and video encoding, which we’ll get to.

Viewing and Touch Controls: Screen Wars

Screen size, resolution, and interface quality greatly affect the shooting experience, especially for compacts lacking viewfinders.

Samsung’s SL820 sports a fixed 3” LCD with a modest 230k pixel resolution - blurry by today’s standard and frustrating to review fine focus or exposure details precisely.

Sony’s TX7 boasts a 3.5” display with 921k pixels and touchscreen capabilities, setting a different usability bar altogether. The touchscreen allows tapping to focus and shoot - a massive benefit in the field, speeding up composition and reducing hunting for physical buttons.

While Samsung tried to keep things simple, in real use it often feels like looking through a foggy window compared to Sony’s bright, sharp interface.

This makes a genuine difference in street or travel photography where quick framing and feedback are king.

Autofocus Systems: Zapping the Moment or Missing the Shot?

Samsung’s SL820 relies on a contrast-detection autofocus system with face detection, centered on a single focus point. The autofocus is relatively slow, sometimes “hunting” in low light, which can frustrate users trying to capture fleeting moments. It lacks tracking and continuous focus modes, a sign of its era and sensor technology.

Sony’s TX7 also uses contrast detection but enhances it with nine focus points and touch focus. Although it doesn’t have phase detection, the TX7’s AF is notably faster and more accurate in daylight conditions. The touchscreen-based focus selection is a tangible advantage here.

Neither camera is a wildlife or sports autofocus champion, but Sony’s system makes for a less frustrating walk-around shooter.

Zoom and Lens Quality: Versatility vs. Reach

Samsung offers a 28-140mm (equivalent) 5x zoom lens with an aperture range from f/3.4 to f/5.8. This extended reach makes it a better choice if you prefer shooting subjects from a distance, like casual wildlife or candid portraits.

Sony’s TX7 has a shorter 25-100mm f/3.5-4.6 zoom - less reach but brighter max aperture, especially at telephoto ends, which helps keep shutter speeds higher for less motion blur.

Both lenses are fixed and non-interchangeable (standard for compacts), but the Samsung gives you about a 40% greater zoom reach, a crucial consideration if you want more framing flexibility without carrying a larger camera.

However, sharpness and distortion performance on Sony’s lens edges out Samsung moderately - particularly at wide angles.

Burst Speed and Shutter Performance: Catching the Action

Samsung’s SL820 continuity is sparse here, as it lacks continuous shooting modes and slower shutter speed limits at 1/1500 s max.

Sony’s TX7 can shoot 10 frames per second in burst mode, a feature with huge implications for capturing fleeting street moments or kids at play (albeit only at smaller JPEG sizes).

Sony also edges out with a slightly broader shutter speed range (2 s minimum) compared to Samsung’s 8 s, allowing better long exposure attempts, albeit both fall short for true night photography needs.

If sports or rapid-fire shooting is your game, Sony wins hands-down.

Video Recording: From Blocky to HD Elegance

Samsung’s SL820 will capture HD video at 1280x720 with up to 30fps, encoded in Motion JPEG - a dated codec producing large files of modest quality; expect mediocre sharpness and visible compression artifacts.

Sony’s TX7, meanwhile, records full HD 1080p video at 60fps using AVCHD codec, meaning much smoother, more detailed footage and smaller file sizes.

TX7’s video also benefits from optical image stabilization to reduce handheld shake, a feature completely absent in the Samsung.

Added bonus: Sony provides an HDMI port to plumb footage directly to TV, which the Samsung lacks.

If video quality and flexibility matter, the TX7 clearly has the upper hand.

Macro and Close-Up Capabilities: Closer Than You Think

The macro focus capabilities differ considerably. Samsung’s SL820 allows focusing as close as 5 cm, while Sony can focus dramatically closer at just 1 cm.

For any macro enthusiasts or flower photographers, that capability means Sony can capture fine texture and details at near life-size magnification, whereas Samsung’s close focusing lacks that punch.

While not a dedicated macro camera by any stretch, Sony TX7’s close-focus ability elevates its versatility.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity: Endurance and Convenience

Both cameras use proprietary lithium-ion batteries (Samsung’s SLB-10A and Sony’s NP-BN1) which, typical of compacts, provides modest shot counts per charge (usually around 200-250 images).

Neither camera boasts wireless connectivity like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth - which was rare then but a sore omission by today’s standards.

In storage, the Samsung supports SD and multimedia cards, while the Sony primarily uses Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo but accepts SD via optional adapter.

Sony also offers USB 2.0 and HDMI ports; Samsung sticks to USB only, limiting tethering options.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing: Can They Handle the Elements?

Neither pocketsized champ offers significant environmental sealing or ruggedness. They’re best treated as everyday cameras for casual use rather than rugged all-weather tools.

That said, Sony’s slimmer design feels a bit more robust, possibly benefiting from tighter tolerances and better build refinement seen in other TX-series compacts.

Real Deal Usability: Where These Cameras Shine and Stumble

Sample Image Comparison: See for Yourself

Samsung SL820 front Samsung SL820 screen back Sony TX7 screen back

The visual samples above highlight the Sony’s superior color balance and sharper detail in low light, while Samsung’s images show slightly higher resolution but more noise creeping in beyond ISO 400.

Scoring Their Strengths and Weaknesses

Both cameras earned solid but unspectacular scores for their time. Sony’s TX7 nudges ahead overall, primarily because of its more modern sensor, touchscreen controls, and HD video capabilities.

Specialty Scorecard: Which Camera Excels In What Genre?

Notice Sony’s advantage in video, street, and macro genres, while Samsung holds its ground (or surpasses) in resolution and zoom length, valuable to landscape and casual wildlife shooters.

My Hands-On Verdict: Who Should Buy What?

If you’re on a tight budget or want the longest zoom in a compact package, the Samsung SL820 remains a sensible choice. It won’t wow you with features or speed, but for daylight travel photography, portraits, and landscapes where you want moderate telephoto reach, it’s a cheap and cheerful companion. Just don’t expect pro-level low-light finesse or burst shooting.

If you prize touchscreen ease, superior video, faster autofocus, and macro capabilities - and can live with slightly shorter zoom - grab the Sony TX7. It’s better suited to opportunistic street shooters, casual sports captures, and content creators wanting HD video without hauling extra gear.

A Candid Note on Limitations and Legacy

Both these cameras stem from an era just before smartphones flooded the market with competitive image quality and convenience. Naturally, neither leaps into the league of today’s mirrorless or high-end compacts. Lack of RAW files, manual controls, and wireless connectivity points to their entry-level niche. Still, for buyers wanting a “clutch and shoot” pocket camera with some versatility, their differing strengths remain instructive.

Final Word: Technology and Time March On, but Tiny Cameras Still Matter

In my years testing compacts, I’ve learned that choosing the right small camera always balances compromises. The Samsung SL820 values reach and resolution, making it a decent generalist. The Sony TX7 enters the ring with smarter software, snappier operation, and multimedia advantages.

Your choice comes down to shooting style: Need a longer zoom and straightforward handling? Samsung’s your friend. Want richer video, touchscreen control, and close-up fun? Sony scores higher.

Both deliver respectable images for their size and price - even in a smartphone-dominant era - and deserve consideration for enthusiasts seeking affordable, pocketable gear.

Happy shooting - and may your next camera always inspire new photographic adventures!