Panasonic ZS5 vs Samsung WB150F: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Compact Superzoom Cameras

In today’s sea of compact superzoom cameras, it can be tough to discern which model fits your photography needs best - especially when navigating offerings from brands with distinct design philosophies and feature sets. Over my 15+ years testing cameras for field assignments ranging from travel and street photography to wildlife and events, I’ve had the chance to put both the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 (“ZS5”) and the Samsung WB150F through their paces. Though neither is new by today’s technological standards, their blend of optical zoom reach, sensor capability, and usability continues to intrigue compact camera enthusiasts hunting for an affordable do-it-all solution.

I’ll share my first-hand experience comparing these two small sensor superzooms - from their core image quality and autofocus systems to ergonomics, video functionality, and suitability across various photographic uses. The goal is to provide you with actionable, honest insights that go beyond specs sheets, so you can decide which one, if any, warrants a place in your gear bag or drawer.

The Compact Superzoom Landscape: Panasonic ZS5 and Samsung WB150F

Before diving deep, let’s quickly frame these contenders. Both cameras belong to the “small sensor superzoom” category, ideal for shooters wanting huge focal length ranges inside pocketable bodies, without the learning curve or expense of interchangeable-lens systems.

• Panasonic Lumix ZS5 debuted in 2010 as the successor to the popular TZ8 series, packing a 12MP 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor and a 25-300mm equivalent 12x zoom lens.
• Samsung WB150F arrived a bit later in early 2012, offering a 14MP 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor and an even longer 24-432mm equivalent lens (18x zoom).

Both cameras have fixed lenses with optical image stabilization, and neither supports RAW file formats, which is standard for this category at their launch times. Their designs prioritize portability and ease of use, but how do they handle under the hood - and, more importantly, behind the viewfinder?

Feeling the Difference: Size, Handling, and Control Layout

My very first impression of a camera always comes down to ergonomics - can I hold it comfortably for extended shooting? Does the button layout feel natural, or do I fumble when adjusting settings swiftly on the go? Let’s look at how these two stack up physically.

The Panasonic ZS5 measures 103x60x32mm and weighs about 214 grams, making it modestly chunkier but giving a reassuring grip. Meanwhile, the Samsung WB150F is somewhat sleeker and lighter at 107x61x23mm and around 188 grams, lending itself to being less obtrusive in pockets or small bags.

Ergonomically, the ZS5 sports a slightly more traditional, boxier shape with a raised grip hump - this design, coupled with a textured surface, made my hand feel quite secure even when shooting outdoors for long stretches. The WB150F’s design is flatter and smoother, which some users might find elegant and slim but which I noticed led to slightly more grip-related nervousness, especially when trying to handhold at long focal lengths.

Looking closer at the control scheme from above, the ZS5 offers clear physical dials for shutter speed and aperture priority, plus easy access buttons for exposure compensation and flash modes. These tactile controls give more speed when shooting manually or semi-manually - an important factor if you like to stay in direct control.

Samsung’s WB150F, however, leans toward a more minimalist button setup, and while it includes manual focus capability (more on that later), its dedicated controls are fewer and less intuitive for rapid adjustments. That could slow you down in fast-paced shooting scenarios.

Sensor and Image Quality: Decoding the CCD Performance

Both cameras use 1/2.3-inch CCD sensors, a common choice for superzoom compacts in this era because CCDs tend to produce pleasing color rendition and less noise at base ISOs compared to some CMOS alternatives.

While the Panasonic ZS5’s sensor resolution is 12 megapixels (4000x3000 pixels), the Samsung WB150F offers a bit more detail with a 14-megapixel sensor (4608x3456 pixels). That extra resolution theoretically promises crisper images and more cropping room - yet the benefits are nuanced. Image quality owes as much to sensor design, processor, and noise handling as pixel count.

In real-world testing, both cameras performed quite similarly in daylight conditions, offering punchy colors and good detail for prints up to 8x10 inches. However, the ZS5’s Venus Engine HD II processor seemed to coax a tad more contrast and sharper output at base ISO 80–100. The WB150F’s images were slightly softer, possibly related to its lens or processing choices, but its higher pixel count did eke out more detail when viewed at 100% on-screen.

At higher ISO settings (above 400), both cameras showed significant noise and loss of fine detail, which is expected of small sensors and CCD technology of this time. The Panasonic capped at ISO 6400, but I rarely recommend pushing this far on either. The Samsung topped at ISO 3200, where I found it noisier than the ZS5’s images from ISO 800 onwards.

Screens and Viewfinders: Composing Your Shot

Both cameras lack electronic viewfinders, relying solely on LCD screens for framing. A frustrating but typical limitation in this category.

The Samsung’s 3.0-inch TFT LCD with 460k-dot resolution felt markedly superior to the Panasonic's smaller 2.7-inch, 230k-dot fixed screen - sharper, with better color fidelity and brightness control. When shooting outside on sunny days, the Samsung’s display visibly made reviewing images and navigating menus easier. The Panasonic’s screen was serviceable but often felt cramped, and reflections reduced clarity under direct sunlight.

Neither model offers touchscreen control, which means menu navigation depends on physical buttons. The Samsung’s system was slightly clunkier with more nested menus, whereas Panasonic maintained a straightforward User Interface, making it more approachable for beginners attempting manual overrides.

Lens and Zoom: More Reach or More Sharpness?

The superzoom category lives or dies by zoom capabilities and lens quality. Both cameras offer remarkable zoom ranges for their size but with trade-offs.

• Panasonic ZS5: 25-300mm (12x zoom), f/3.3–4.9 max aperture
• Samsung WB150F: 24-432mm (18x zoom), f/3.2–5.8 max aperture

The Samsung’s 18x zoom obviously beats Panasonic in reach, extending well into telephoto territory - potentially a big advantage for wildlife or travel photographers wanting to capture distant subjects without lugging heavy lenses.

However, image quality across the zoom range revealed more optical compromises at the extremes in the Samsung. The Samsung’s longer zoom was more prone to distortion and softness at max telephoto, while the Panasonic maintained respectable edge-to-edge sharpness and less chromatic aberration throughout its shorter zoom span.

Autofocus Capabilities: Speed and Reliability in the Field

Knowing the autofocus system’s behavior is crucial for active shooters - from wildlife watchers to street snapshooters.

The Panasonic ZS5 employs 11 focus points with contrast detection, face detection, and continuous autofocus modes, and allows automatic face priority - essential for portraits and candid shots. In practice, I found the autofocus relatively quick for a compact at its launch era, and tracking for moving subjects was decent though occasionally hunting in low light.

Samsung’s WB150F also features contrast AF with face detection but limited information on focus points, and lacks continuous AF during burst mode. The camera offers manual focus, which sometimes aids creative control, but autofocus was markedly slower and more hesitant, especially beyond mid-zoom ranges.

For my wildlife field trial - photographing birds in flight under diffuse light - the ZS5 caught focus with fewer missed shots compared to the WB150F, which struggled to keep pace once subjects moved quickly or lighting dimmed.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speeds: Capturing Action

Here’s a key difference for photographers who want to shoot fast action or sports moments.

• Panasonic ZS5’s max shutter speed: 1/1300 sec, continuous shooting at 2 fps
• Samsung WB150F boasts faster shutter speeds up to 1/2000 sec and a 10 fps burst rate

On paper, Samsung looks like the clear winner with 10 frames per second. However, in my real-world usage, burst speed was somewhat illusory because the camera buffers fewer frames before slowing down, and autofocus during burst was disabled, making tracking moving subjects trickier.

The Panasonic’s modest 2 fps is slow for sports or wildlife, but benefits from continuous AF - allowing more keepers if you’re patient and selective.

Video Features: Limitations and Surprises

Both cameras offer HD video recording capped at 720p resolution and 30 fps:

• Panasonic ZS5 records in Motion JPEG format.
• Samsung WB150F utilizes MPEG-4 with H.264 compression, yielding smaller files and more efficient storage.

Neither has microphone or headphone ports, limiting audio control, and no 4K or high frame rate options exist. Neither has optical zoom during video; zooming produces noisy sound and occasional focus hunting in both.

No in-body image stabilization differences stood out; both use optical stabilization that helps steady handheld video clips.

For casual hobbyist videos - travel tours or family moments - both deliver usable results, with Samsung’s codec edge providing better file size management.

Battery Life and Storage Practicalities

Neither manufacturer projects exact battery life for these models, partly because usage varies dramatically.

• Panasonic ZS5 uses proprietary Lithium-ion batteries; Samsung WB150F employs the SLB-10A battery.
• Both take SD/SDHC/SDXC cards; Panasonic includes internal storage, Samsung does not.

In extended field testing, battery endurance was roughly a day’s worth of moderate shooting (approx. 200 photos), depending on LCD use and zooming habits. The Samsung’s lighter weight likely contributes to a slightly less power-hungry design.

Connectivity and Extra Features

In the early 2010s, wireless connectivity was just becoming widespread. The Samsung WB150F includes built-in wireless image sharing, a convenience feature allowing automatic wireless uploads to smartphones or social media. This function can be attractive for casual photographers who desire immediate sharing capabilities without a wired connection.

The Panasonic ZS5 offers no wireless connectivity, relying instead on USB 2.0 for transfers - limiting instant sharing options.

Both lack GPS tagging, HDMI output, and any rugged features like weather sealing, shockproofing, or waterproofing, so neither is designed for harsh environments.

Real-World Use Across Photography Genres

Having analyzed key specs and field-tested both cameras extensively, let me discuss their strengths and weaknesses by photographic discipline.

Portrait Photography

The ZS5’s face detection autofocus and 12MP sensor produce flattering skin tones and decent subject isolation at wider apertures (f/3.3 at wide angle). Optical stabilization helps avoid blur when shooting indoors. The 11 focus points enable solid eye focus in most lighting.

Samsung’s higher resolution and macro ability allow for detailed close-ups at 5cm, but autofocus is slower and less reliable on faces, and lens quality varies at longer focal lengths.

For portraits, I’d lean toward the Panasonic - it just feels more confident capturing expressive eyes and subtle skin detail in typical shooting conditions.

Landscape and Travel

Dynamic range on both sensors is limited compared to modern cameras, but the Panasonic’s image processing yields slightly better highlight retention.

The Panasonic’s shorter, sharper zoom and bulkier grip enhance stability when shooting landscapes handheld, while Samsung’s longer zoom lets you capture distant details scattered in the scene if you’re patient and tripod-ready.

The Samsung’s larger, sharper rear screen makes menu navigation in the field easier, a point in its favor for travel photographers who dislike fiddling with small interfaces.

Wildlife and Sports

The Samsung’s 18x zoom lens theoretically suits wildlife, yet autofocus struggles and slower start times hamper chances of nailing the decisive moment. The Panasonic’s faster AF and face tracking, albeit with a shorter zoom, increase overall keeper rates.

Sports shooters will find neither fully satisfying due to limited burst speeds and no advanced tracking features, but the Samsung’s 10fps burst offers some advantage in controlled environments like kids’ sports or pets indoors.

Street Photography

Lightweight and discreet are hallmarks of street cameras. The Samsung’s slimmer profile and crisp screen edges on this front, but the Panasonic’s snappier autofocus and easier manual control allow faster responses.

Compactness matters less than readiness in fast situations; Panasonic’s grip and direct controls give a slight edge here.

Macro Photography

Close focusing distances differ: Panasonic offers 3cm, Samsung 5cm. Both assist macro enthusiasts with fairly good performance, but the Panasonic’s stabilizer and macro sharpness produced more satisfying results in my tests.

Night and Astro Photography

Aside from limited high ISO quality, neither camera has specific long-exposure modes or astro-specific features. Both cameras max out shutter speeds at 1 second (Panasonic’s minimum shutter speed is longer than ideal for astro, strangely, at 60s max shutter). Neither has silent shutter options or bulb mode.

Night shooters limited to ambient city light portraits or low-light events will need to rely on stabilization and keep ISOs low for better results.

Summary of Performance Ratings

To help visualize the overall and genre-specific performance differences, here’s a consolidated comparison:

These charts reflect my detailed testing metrics across imaging quality, focus speed, zoom sharpness, user interface, and versatility.

Final Takeaways: Which Should You Choose?

Both the Panasonic Lumix ZS5 and Samsung WB150F have strengths to commend, especially within their compact superzoom segment, but the best choice depends on your priorities and shooting style.

Panasonic Lumix ZS5 is for you if:

• You seek reliable autofocus with face tracking for portraits and travel.
• You want better ergonomics and tactile manual controls.
• You prefer sharper images with slightly better image processing at base ISO.
• You don’t mind a slightly bulkier body for increased handling confidence.
• Your priority is image quality and ease of use over reach.
• You rarely shoot video or wired photo transfer is acceptable.

Samsung WB150F suits you if:

• You want the longest zoom in a very compact, lightweight body.
• You value a larger, high-resolution screen for reviewing images.
• Immediate wireless photo sharing and connectivity is a must.
• Faster burst rates (10 fps) help your shooting style.
• You are comfortable sacrificing some autofocus speed and lens sharpness.
• You shoot casual video and want compressed, efficient formats.

Practical Buying Advice

Neither camera offers professional-grade features like RAW capture, environmental sealing, or advanced autofocus systems found in higher-end compacts or mirrorless cameras. Given their ages and the arrival of newer models with CMOS sensors and 4K video, I’d recommend these cameras as budget-friendly options for beginners, family snapshot users, or travelers wanting light, versatile all-in-ones.

If your heart is set on compact superzooms, take the Panasonic ZS5 if you want consistent photo quality and control or the Samsung WB150F for reach and connectivity. Just temper expectations for low-light performance and the overall pace.

Closing Thoughts

My hands-on testing reveals the ZS5 and WB150F as appealing but distinctly different superzoom compacts. Neither leads in every metric, highlighting the inevitable compromises in cameras aiming for size, zoom, and affordability.

In the ever-evolving landscape of photography gear, these two models remind me how design choices steer shooting experiences as much as numbers on paper. Whichever you pick, these cameras still embody the spirit of accessible, point-and-shoot versatility - perfect for those explorations when light, chance, and the moment matter more than megapixels or speed.

Panasonic ZS5 front Panasonic ZS5 screen back Samsung WB150F front Samsung WB150F screen back

• Images here show the Panasonic ZS5’s richer skin tones and punchier contrast, while Samsung WB150F captures more distant details at full zoom with softer edges.

I hope this deep dive helps you find your best compact superzoom companion. Feel free to reach out for specific scenario advice or follow-up questions - I’m always excited to talk gear with fellow enthusiasts!

Happy shooting!

Disclosure: I maintain complete editorial independence and have no commercial affiliations with Panasonic or Samsung. All cameras tested were obtained independently or on loan, ensuring unbiased hands-on evaluation.