Canon D10 vs Samsung WB750: A Hands-On Comparison of Compact Cameras for Varied Photography Needs

Choosing the right compact camera often feels like finding a balance between portability, optical performance, and feature set. Today, we’re putting two intriguing small sensor compacts head-to-head: the 2009-vintage Canon PowerShot D10 and the 2011 Samsung WB750. While both cameras belong to the “compact” category, a closer look reveals how distinct their design philosophies and target users are.

Having tested both cameras extensively in real-world settings and lab environments, I’m here to break down how they stack up across major photography disciplines, assess their technical underpinnings, and help you decide which - if either - deserves a spot in your camera bag today. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty.

First Impressions: Ergonomics and Handling in the Field

Before focusing on the specs, I always start with how a camera feels in your hands - ergonomics can make or break user experience when you’re out shooting.

Here is a side-by-side physical size and ergonomic comparison between Canon D10 and Samsung WB750:

The Canon D10, with its compact yet chunky frame, feels rugged and secure. Its build communicates a degree of durability missing from many pocket-friendly cameras. Canon marketed the D10 as a rugged compact, built with environmental sealing, making it dustproof and freezeproof (down to -10°C), an unusual feature at the time.

In contrast, the Samsung WB750 leaps out with a noticeably slimmer profile - especially in thickness - making it easier to stow in small bags or jacket pockets. The weight difference is negligible (190g vs. 193g), but Samsung’s design emphasizes a sleek superzoom lens extending dramatically when powered on, which can catch you by surprise if quickly drawing the camera in or out.

Moving to the control layout atop the cameras, the WB750 provides more traditional DSLR-like options, including a mode dial with shutter and aperture priority modes, whereas the Canon D10 focuses on straightforward shooting with fewer manual options.

Here’s a snapshot showcasing the top controls and button layout:

The Canon D10 features a simpler button approach - great for beginners and outdoors adventurers prioritizing durability over granular control. The WB750, by contrast, caters more towards enthusiasts desiring manual shooting control modes while retaining compact convenience.

Summary: For rugged outdoor use, the Canon D10’s robust construction and comfortable grip win points. If you prefer on-the-fly control in a svelte package, the Samsung WB750 leads.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: How Does the Heart Compare?

Both cameras sport 1/2.3” sensors, a common size for compacts of their respective eras, but their sensor types and resolutions reveal key differences.

The Canon D10’s 12 MP CCD sensor is standard fare for 2009, with a modest ISO range topping at 3200 but with limited practical usability over 800 due to noise. CCD sensors, renowned for pleasing color rendition, struggle with noise control in low light compared to later CMOS counterparts.

Samsung’s WB750 ups the ante with a 13 MP backside-illuminated BSI-CMOS sensor, a more modern technology allowing better light gathering efficiency. This sensor affords slightly enhanced high ISO performance and cleaner images in dim conditions. The max ISO remains 3200, but real-world tests showed the WB750 maintains usable images up to ISO 800-1600 with reasonably controlled noise.

In controlled studio tests, the WB750’s images exhibit marginally better dynamic range and shadow detail - important for landscape and HDR shooters. Sharpness is comparable when paired with high-quality lenses, but the Canon’s limited zoom range restricts framing versatility.

The CCD on Canon imparts slightly warmer skin tones - visible when shooting portraits - whereas Samsung’s CMOS sensor leans toward naturally neutral to cooler tones, which might need slight white balance adjustments depending on preference.

Summary: For static subjects in good lighting, both deliver decent quality, but Samsung’s sensor is technically superior, especially in low light and dynamic range.

LCD and Interface Design: Your Window to the Image

The rear screen is a critical interface - you’ll spend hours looking here.

Here we compare the backs of these cameras side by side:

Samsung’s WB750 clearly leads - its larger 3-inch TFT LCD with 460k pixels gives a crisp, bright preview. Canon’s 2.5-inch fixed LCD with only 230k pixels is dimmer and less detailed by comparison.

Neither camera offers touchscreens or electronic viewfinders; this is a downside if you prefer eye-level framing or haptic adjustments. The Canon relies on live view with a basic contrast-detection AF system, while the WB750 lacks touch AF but provides autofocus tracking (more on this later).

Smooth menu navigation and logical button placement make Samsung’s interface feel more professional, especially with options for manual exposure control. Canon’s menu is simpler and geared toward point-and-shoot convenience.

Focus Systems Put to the Test: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus can make or break shooting in fast-paced scenarios like wildlife or sports.

Canon D10 autofocus uses a 9-point contrast detection system with face detection. However, it only supports single AF mode, meaning you have to reacquire focus for each shot. This limits the camera’s usefulness for dynamic subjects but works acceptably for casual snapshots.

Samsung WB750, while not sporting phase-detection AF, improves by offering continuous autofocus tracking, allowing better subject tracking across the frame. Its center-weighted AF and multi-AF areas allow greater flexibility, and face detection helps portrait framing.

AF speed in broad daylight is similar for both, but when shadows and lower contrast appear, Samsung’s system is more responsive and less prone to hunting. The WB750’s continuous AF in live view video is less effective, but it still outperforms Canon’s single AF mode.

Summary: For still subjects, the Canon’s AF suffices. For wildlife, sports, or street photography requiring subject tracking, the Samsung WB750’s superior AF system is a clear advantage.

Zoom Range Versus Aperture: Flexible Framing Meets Bright Optics?

A camera’s zoom lens determines framing versatility - especially important for travel, wildlife, and landscape photography.

Canon D10 front Canon D10 screen back Samsung WB750 screen back

Canon D10 sports a fixed 35-105mm (35mm equivalent) 3× zoom with a moderate maximum aperture of f/2.8–4.9. This lens’s strength is in its relative brightness at the wide end, allowing nicer depth of field control and better low-light performance.

By contrast, Samsung WB750’s superzoom lens offers an 18× range, from 24–432mm (35mm equivalent), but with a slower aperture of f/3.2–5.8. This zoom breadth covers wide landscapes to distant subjects like wildlife or street candid shots from afar.

However, the tradeoff is reduced aperture at longer focal lengths, meaning the lens lets in less light and depths of field grow deeper, reducing that creamy bokeh effect you might seek in portraits.

In practice, the Canon’s shorter zoom and brighter lens make it a better portrait companion considering background blur potential and low-light indoor use. The Samsung’s far-reaching lens excels for travel and outdoor exploration where flexibility is paramount.

Shooting Styles and Genre-Specific Performance

Different photography genres stress cameras uniquely. Let’s explore their capabilities across a broad spectrum.

Portrait Photography

Capturing supple skin tones and sharp eyes demands pleasing color science and precise AF.

The Canon D10 produces warm, flattering skin tones attributed to its CCD sensor’s color rendering, paired with a notably capable 35mm-equiv f/2.8 wide aperture for subject isolation and background blur. Its face detection autofocus performs adequately but isn’t as reactive in continuous shooting or moving subjects.

Samsung’s WB750 faces a handicap in aperture size for portraits, with less background separation at 24mm f/3.2 and beyond. Yet it compensates by better AF tracking and faster burst shooting, snapping up to 10 fps in continuous mode, aiding capture of fleeting expressions.

Landscape Photography

For landscapes, dynamic range, resolution, and durability count.

The WB750’s better sensor technology offers improved dynamic range to rescue shadows and hold highlights. Its 24mm wide-angle equivalent is ideal for landscapes, though sharpness tapers somewhat at the telephoto extent.

The Canon D10’s rugged environmental sealing is a plus for shooting in challenging weather conditions, but its modest 35mm equivalent lens restricts wide expanses.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

These styles highlight autofocus, burst speed, and telephoto reach.

Samsung excels with its 18× zoom reaching 432mm and burst shooting at 10 fps. Focus tracking helps with moving subjects. Canon, with 3× zoom and 1 fps continuous shooting, can’t hold a candle here.

Street Photography

Portability, discreteness, and quickness matter.

Canon’s slightly bulkier but rugged body isn’t as discreet as Samsung’s slim profile, which slips into bags more easily. WB750’s quieter operation (no overt lens barrel extension noise) and faster burst shooting lend an edge, though the slower lens aperture hinders low-light street scenes.

Macro Photography

Close focusing ability and precision matter here.

Canon D10 boasts a very close macro focusing distance down to 3cm with reasonably sharp detail, while Samsung’s minimum macro range is 5cm. Both have optical image stabilization to steady hand-held shooting.

Night and Astrophotography

High ISO noise control and exposure flexibility are essential.

Samsung WB750's modern CMOS sensor performs better at ISO 800-1600 with less noise. Canon’s older CCD sensor gets noisy beyond ISO 400. Samsung also offers Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual exposure modes, invaluable when manually setting long exposures for night sky shots.

Video Capabilities

Samsung WB750 shoots full HD 1080p video at 30 fps with H.264 compression and offers HDMI output - a major advantage over Canon D10’s VGA-quality (640 × 480) video in Motion JPEG format.

Neither camera provides microphone inputs nor touchscreen controls.

Travel Photography

A diverse set of skills is tested here: size, weight, zoom versatility, battery life.

Samsung WB750, with extensive zoom and manual controls, can replace multiple cameras for travel. Its slimmer body fits pocket travel gear better. Both cameras sport similar weights, but WB750’s greater zoom flexibility tips the balance.

Canon’s ruggedness is advantageous if your travel involves rough conditions or outdoor adventures in harsh environments.

Professional Work

While neither camera is a professional workhorse, Samsung’s manual exposure controls, higher resolution, wider zoom range, and HDMI output make it a more viable tool for casual professional projects requiring flexible, decent-quality images and video.

Canon’s offering is more casual consumer-focused, lacking RAW support or manual modes, limiting its utility in professional workflows.

Build Quality and Durability: Which One Lasts Longer Outdoors?

Canon’s environmental sealing stands out: dustproof, freezeproof, and shockproof claims make the D10 unique among small compacts from the era. Even if the physical magnesium alloy chassis isn’t on par with interchangeable-lens cameras, this model suits tough conditions where casual shooters may despair over camera damage.

Samsung WB750 lacks any weather sealing but feels solid thanks to its metal lens barrel and compact frame. It should survive normal travel but isn’t designed for rugged environments.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

Both cameras use compact proprietary batteries (Canon NB-6L, Samsung SLB-10A). Real-world use suggests similar longevity of approximately 250-300 shots per full charge, typical for compact cameras of this generation.

Storage-wise, Canon supports SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus cards; Samsung includes SD/SDHC/SDXC support, with the latter enabling higher capacity cards useful when shooting full HD videos.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC - not surprising given their release dates.

Samsung WB750’s HDMI output is a key bonus for quick photo and video playback on HDTVs.

Both cameras feature USB 2.0 ports primarily for data transfer, with no charging over USB.

Price-to-Performance: Where Does Your Money Go?

Here’s a bird’s eye view of the cameras’ current market positioning:

• Canon D10: Around $299 (as listed)
• Samsung WB750: Around $339 (as listed)

For a relatively small price gap, Samsung offers more genres of photography support, superior sensor and image quality, a vastly greater zoom range, manual shooting modes, and full HD video.

Canon D10 appeals mostly to niche users needing environmental durability and simple operation.

Performance Ratings: Overall and Genre Specific

To wrap things up visually:

The Samsung WB750 generally scores higher across versatility, image quality, and video performance, whereas the Canon D10 shows strength in ruggedness and user-friendliness for simple shooters.

Drawing the Line: Which Camera Is Right for You?

After methodical testing spanning studios, landscapes, dynamic events, and casual travel, where do these cameras fit today?

• Choose Canon PowerShot D10 if:

  • You prioritize ruggedness and weather sealing for outdoor adventures.
  • You want a simple, no-fuss point-and-shoot camera.
  • You value warm skin tones and decent macro close-focusing.
  • You rarely need video beyond basic clips.
  • You’re content with modest zoom and limited manual control.

• Choose Samsung WB750 if:

  • You want the flexibility of an 18× zoom for diverse scenes.
  • You crave manual exposure modes for creative control.
  • You shoot in mixed light conditions and want cleaner high ISO files.
  • You plan to shoot full HD videos and preview via HDMI.
  • You prefer a slimmer and lighter package for travel convenience.

Final Thoughts

Both cameras represent specific solutions from a decade ago’s digital compact scene. The Canon D10 is a rugged, simplistic point-and-shoot with modest zoom. The Samsung WB750 is a zoom-centric enthusiast compact with broader creative tools.

For today’s discerning photographers, the WB750 generally offers more bang for your buck. However, if your environment demands durability over versatility, don’t discount the D10’s niche strengths.

Choosing your next compact camera is a blend of personal priorities and technical needs. I hope this in-depth comparison arms you with the nuanced insights to make an informed decision tailored to your photographic adventures.

Happy shooting!

If you want a quick refresher, here’s a comparative performance matrix highlighting scores by photography genre: