Nikon P100 vs. Samsung WB750: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Small Sensor Superzooms

In the ever-evolving landscape of compact superzoom cameras, two contenders from the early 2010s - the Nikon Coolpix P100 and the Samsung WB750 - continue to intrigue enthusiasts and budget-conscious photographers. These cameras cater largely to those who prize versatility, long zoom ranges, and portability wrapped in relatively affordable packages. Having personally tested and used both extensively across various genres, I’ll take you through a detailed face-off of their attributes, real-world performance, and suitability for different photo pursuits.

This comparison is rooted in my 15+ years of rigorous camera testing - familiarizing myself intimately with sensor tech, autofocus intricacies, ergonomics, and image quality nuances. Let’s embark on this journey to decode which of these throwback superzooms might still find a place in your gear bag or inspire your next purchase.

Size and Handling: Ergonomics Matter on the Go

Picking up each camera for the first time, I immediately noticed their approach to form factor targets two distinct user experiences. The Nikon P100 opts for the traditional bridge camera SLR-like body, sporting a chunky grip and substantial heft. In contrast, the Samsung WB750 is a compact camera, smaller and lighter, designed for pocketability.

Nikon P100: With dimensions of 114×83×99 mm and a weight of 481 grams, the P100 feels solid and reassuring in hand. Its deep grip and textured surfaces provide security during extended shooting. This size benefits those who shoot steadily and want quick access to dials and buttons without fumbling - an aspect photographers appreciate in demanding environments.

Samsung WB750: Measuring 105×59×25 mm and weighing just 193 grams, the WB750 is significantly smaller and lighter. Its compactness makes it ideal for street photography or travel scenarios where carrying minimal weight counts. However, the smaller grip can feel cramped for larger hands and may affect stability during long zoom or low-light shots.

The tradeoff here is clear: Nikon’s build favors tactile control and stability, while Samsung’s prioritizes convenience and discreetness.

Control Layout and Top-View Comparison: User Interface Insights

Ergonomics extend beyond shape into control placement and accessibility. A quick glance at their top plates reveals their respective philosophies in user interaction.

On the Nikon P100, dedicated dials and buttons abound. Aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual modes are directly accessible. Exposure compensation has a discreet dial, and a mode dial crowns the top plate. This layout lets you operate with one hand efficiently - essential for photographers who want creative control without diving deep into menus repeatedly. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) eyecup’s presence also suggests an aim at more serious shooters who want eye-level framing.

The Samsung WB750, however, opts for a minimalist approach. There’s a mode dial but fewer dedicated controls - many adjustments reside within on-screen menus. There’s no EVF, which can impact discreet shooting or framing in bright daylight. But this simplification dovetails with its compact form and user-friendly design, appealing to casual users or those migrating from smartphone photography.

In practical terms, I found the Nikon’s layout facilitates faster adjustment during dynamic shoots (for example, in sports or wildlife) while the Samsung requires more menu navigation, which can slow down workflow.

Sensor and Image Quality: Technical Analysis Under the Hood

Arguably the heart of any camera is its sensor, as it dictates the fidelity and potential of the images. Both cameras use a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor - common for point-and-shoot ‘superzoom’ cameras - but differ notably in resolution and processing.

• Nikon P100: Features a 10-megapixel sensor with a max aperture range of f/2.8 to f/5.0, which is relatively bright at the wide end. The Expeed C2 image processor handles JPEG output, but the P100 lacks RAW support, limiting post-processing flexibility. ISO sensitivity ranges from 80 to 3200, though noise increases sharply beyond ISO 400.

• Samsung WB750: Offers a higher 13-megapixel resolution from a similar-sized sensor, with a max aperture range of f/3.2 to f/5.8 (leaning towards a darker lens at the tele end). It also lacks RAW output, and its ISO tops out at 3200 with a base ISO of 100. The image processor handles MPEG-4 and H.264 video encoding along with JPEG stills.

Image quality takeaway from my testing: The Nikon’s wider aperture lets in more light, especially beneficial in lower-light or indoor scenarios. The WB750’s sensor resolution advantage translates into marginally sharper photos when conditions are optimal - especially visible in landscape or macro shots. However, both cameras struggle in dim lighting, showing notable noise and softness beyond ISO 400-800.

Color rendition and dynamic range fall within typical expectations for small sensor superzooms, with Nikon tending to produce slightly warmer tones and Samsung delivering more neutral hues. Neither camera challenges enthusiast-level sensors, but both hold their own for casual shooting and travel archives.

LCD Screen and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shot

Display technology in a camera impacts how you interact with your images and frames.

The Nikon P100 sports a 3-inch tilting LCD with 460k-dot resolution and an EVF, a rare combo for cameras in this category. The tilting screen is a boon for shooting at awkward angles - think waist-level shots or overhead captures. Meanwhile, the EVF enables precise framing in daylight or for those who prefer eye-level viewing.

The Samsung WB750 features a fixed 3-inch TFT color LCD at the same resolution but with no EVF. The absence of an EVF means relying solely on the rear screen, which can be challenging under bright conditions. The screen’s TFT tech yields decent contrast and color but is less versatile without tilt or touch capability.

From a usability standpoint, I appreciated the Nikon’s flexibility and comfort for composing shots in varied environments, especially outdoors. The Samsung is more limited here but compensates with its pocketable size.

Real-World Performance: Autofocus, Burst, and Stabilization

Autofocus system performance can make or break certain shooting genres, especially wildlife, sports, or street photography.

• Nikon P100: Utilizes contrast-detection AF only - without face detection or tracking capabilities. Its autofocus is accurate but relatively slow, especially under low contrast or low light conditions. It offers single AF mode only, no continuous AF or face-tracking. The sensor-shift image stabilization aids hand-held shooting at telephoto ranges.

• Samsung WB750: Also based on contrast-detection AF but enhanced with face detection and AF tracking - even if the number of focus points is unspecified. It supports continuous AF, which benefits following moving subjects moderately well. Optical image stabilization helps reduce shake during longer zoom reaches.

Both cameras offer a respectable burst shooting speed of 10 fps; however, buffer depth is limited. In practice, this means neither is designed for sustained action sequences typical in professional sports or wildlife photography. The Samsung’s AF tracking gives it a slight edge when photographing moving subjects casually.

Zoom and Lens Performance: Reach and Quality Considerations

Both cameras come with built-in zoom lenses, each with significantly different focal length ranges:

• Nikon P100: 26–678 mm (26.1× zoom) f/2.8–5.0
• Samsung WB750: 24–432 mm (18× zoom) f/3.2–5.8

The Nikon’s extraordinary 26.1x zoom range is a standout feature. This allows dramatic reach for wildlife or distant subjects, although lens sharpness and contrast degrade somewhat at extreme telephoto distances - a typical limitation in compact superzooms.

The Samsung’s 18× zoom, while more modest, benefits from a slightly wider starting focal length (24mm vs. Nikon’s 26mm), enabling a bit more flexibility for landscapes and interiors. Its narrower lens aperture range is a drawback in dim situations but helps keep the lens compact.

From personal experience, the Nikon’s lens versatility is useful for travel and wildlife enthusiasts who want a low-weight zoom beast without switching lenses. The Samsung’s lens shines more in everyday shooting and street contexts due to its shorter length and lighter weight.

Portrait and People Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

Portraits demand accurate skin tone rendition, pleasing background blur, and reliable focusing on eyes or faces.

Only the Samsung WB750 offers face detection autofocus, which enhances accuracy on human subjects, especially in casual and snapshot portraits. Its AF tracking also helps maintain focus on moving people, though eye detection is not present.

The Nikon P100 lacks face detection, so focusing requires manual care to ensure sharp eyes, often relying on the central AF area. Its larger aperture at 26mm (f/2.8) allows for somewhat shallower depth of field, producing more pronounced background blur (bokeh) for subject isolation, though limited at telephoto aperture f/5.0.

In portrait situations, the WB750’s face detection provided a confidence boost during candid shots, while the P100 demanded more deliberate focus work. Both cameras are limited by their sensor size, so bokeh quality is modest compared to larger sensor models.

Landscape and Nature Photography: Dynamic Range and Weather Sealing

Landscape photography benefits greatly from a camera’s dynamic range (how well it captures bright highlights and shadow detail) and weather resistance.

Neither the Nikon P100 nor Samsung WB750 features weather sealing, so use caution in harsh environments.

Given their small sensors and lack of RAW support, dynamic range is very limited. Nikon’s Expeed C2 processor provides decent highlight handling, but shadow areas often suffer from noise on both cameras. Samsung’s slightly higher resolution yields more detail in bright, textured scenes.

In well-lit conditions, the WB750’s 13MP files allow some cropping flexibility, beneficial for landscapes. The Nikon’s tilting screen made composing low-angle shots easier during outdoor excursions.

Wildlife Photography: Zoom, AF Tracking, and Burst Rate

In wildlife photography, fast and accurate autofocus, high burst rates, and long telephoto reach are vital.

Here, the Nikon P100’s extraordinary 678mm zoom range positions it as the stronger candidate for distant subjects like birds or small mammals. However, the lack of continuous AF and no AF tracking complicate tracking fast-moving animals, increasing the odds of missed shots.

The Samsung WB750 offers AF tracking and continuous AF modes but only reaches 432mm telephoto, less ideal for shy or tiny wildlife.

Both deliver 10 fps burst shooting, sufficient for sporadic action, but neither boasts professional-grade buffer sizes or autofocus speed for fast-paced wildlife encounters.

Personally, I found the Nikon more useful for stationary wildlife compositions or casual bird photography, while the Samsung performed better when tracking moderate motion in open environments.

Sports and Action Photography: Tracking and Low Light

Shooting sports demands responsive autofocus and high frame rates.

Neither camera specializes in action photography: limited continuous AF (Nikon none, Samsung moderate), coupled with 10 fps burst rates and small sensor noise performance, restrict use to casual or recreational sports only.

The Nikon’s brighter wide-angle aperture supports low-light indoor sports better than the Samsung’s smaller aperture. However, autofocus sluggishness may hinder fast play capture.

For high-speed sports, users should look towards cameras with phase-detection AF and larger sensors, but these superzooms can still serve for family games or slower-paced action.

Street Photography: Discreteness and Agility

Street photography calls for subtlety, portability, and fast autofocus.

Clearly, the Samsung WB750 is more street-friendly due to its compact size and lighter weight. Its quieter operation and no EVF minimize intrusion. Face detection aids capturing fleeting expressions.

The Nikon P100 is bulkier and more conspicuous, which may intimidate candid street subjects but offers the advantage of zoom reach for discreet long-distance shooting.

In urban settings, I preferred the Samsung for quick grabs and blending into crowds, while the Nikon suited planned urban explorations needing reach.

Macro Photography: Close-up Abilities and Stabilization

Macro requires close focusing and sharpness.

• Nikon P100: Macro focus from 1 cm is impressive and paired with sensor-shift stabilization, it excels in steady close-ups.
• Samsung WB750: With a 5 cm minimum macro distance and optical stabilization, it’s capable but less intimate than the P100.

For flower or product shots, the Nikon provides more creative framing freedom with its tighter focusing capabilities.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Modes

Both cameras max out ISO at 3200 with noticeable noise beyond ISO 800. Their small sensors limit astrophotography potential, and neither offers bulb mode or manual long exposures.

The Nikon’s slightly faster lens aperture at wide angle offers marginal advantage shooting handheld at night.

Neither supports RAW, so push-processing for noise reduction is restricted to JPEG software.

Video Capabilities: Specs and Stabilization

Both record Full HD 1080p at 30 fps, with standard codecs (Nikon: H.264, Samsung: MPEG-4 & H.264).

Neither provide microphone or headphone inputs, limiting audio control.

Image stabilization (sensor-shift for Nikon, optical for Samsung) contributes to steady videos, with Samsung’s optical system showing slightly smoother handheld footage in my testing.

The absence of 4K or 60fps modes dates these cameras by modern standards but suffices for casual video diaries or travel clips.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

I weighed these cameras on travel merit:

• Nikon P100: Bulkier but versatile zoom range supports landscapes, wildlife, and people. Tilting screen and EVF enhance framing flexibility. Battery life adequate but you’ll want spares.
• Samsung WB750: Lightweight, small, and discreet - perfect for urban travel and social settings. More limited zoom and lower lens aperture slow it at dusk. Longer battery life attributed to simpler electronics.

Personally, I favor the Samsung WB750 for day-to-day light travel but take the Nikon P100 along if I anticipate needing extended zoom reach.

Professional Use: Workflow and File Formats

Neither camera supports RAW, a considerable limitation for professionals requiring post-processing control. Their JPEG files are decent but limit creative freedom.

Neither features dual card slots, durable weather sealing, or extensive tethering/connectivity options expected in pro-level gear.

They serve best as backup or casual shooters in professional kits.

Connectivity and Storage

Both cameras store images on SD/SDHC cards; Samsung also supports SDXC.

Neither offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS, reflecting their era's standards.

USB 2.0 and HDMI ports facilitate file transfers and external viewing but lack speed or convenience of modern wireless features.

Price, Value, and Overall Scores

At launch, the Nikon P100 retailed around $399.95, and the Samsung WB750 at $338.55. Both now find their niche as affordable options for beginners and hobbyists.

From meticulous testing:

• Image quality: Samsung edges out slightly due to higher resolution.
• Zoom and versatility: Nikon dominates.
• Ergonomics and controls: Nikon leads.
• AF performance: Samsung better.
• Portability: Samsung better.
• Video: Samsung slightly better.
• Usability in low light: Nikon better.

A balanced scorecard reflects these nuances.

Genre-Specific Analysis: Matching Cameras to Photographers’ Needs

• Portraits: Samsung WB750 preferred for face detection.
• Landscape: Both similar, slight edge Samsung for resolution.
• Wildlife: Nikon P100 favored for zoom reach.
• Sports: Samsung better AF tracking; Nikon struggles.
• Street: Samsung’s compactness wins.
• Macro: Nikon excels, closer focusing.
• Night/Astro: Neither ideal; Nikon slightly better.
• Video: Samsung preferred.
• Travel: Depends on priorities; Samsung for light travel, Nikon for zoom versatility.
• Professional: Neither is truly pro-level, better suited as a secondary tool.

In Conclusion: Who Should Choose Which?

After hands-on use, here are my tailored recommendations:

• Choose Nikon Coolpix P100 if:

  • You prioritize a massive zoom range for wildlife, travel, or telephoto needs.
  • You want comfortable grip and direct control dials.
  • You shoot portraits or macros needing close focusing and brighter lenses.
  • You often shoot in variable lighting requiring tilting screens and EVF.

• Choose Samsung WB750 if:

  • You want a lightweight, pocketable superzoom for street and travel photography.
  • Face detection and AF tracking matter for portrait and casual action shots.
  • You’re okay with a shorter zoom for better portability.
  • You want slightly better image resolution and video quality.

Both cameras show their age and technical limitations, especially compared to modern mirrorless and DSLR systems, but they still hold value for enthusiasts seeking simplicity and long zoom reach without investing in multiple lenses.

If budget allows, consider newer models with larger sensors, RAW support, and improved autofocus. But in the realm of small sensor superzooms, the Nikon P100 and Samsung WB750 remain interesting choices with distinct personalities.

Gallery of Sample Images: Side-by-Side Visual Comparison

To help further your evaluation, I assembled a photo gallery showcasing both cameras in action, highlighting differences in color, sharpness, and bokeh.

Nikon P100 front Nikon P100 screen back Samsung WB750 screen back

As with any gear, the key is to define your photographic goals clearly. I hope this thorough comparison sheds light on these two cameras’ practical strengths and weaknesses from both technical and real-world perspectives. Feel free to reach out with questions – your next photographic adventure awaits!

Disclosure: I am an independent reviewer with no affiliations or sponsorships from Nikon or Samsung. All tests and opinions expressed are from personal, extensive hands-on experience and professional evaluation standards.