Pentax X90 vs Samsung ST100: The Real Deal on Two 2010 Compact Cameras

Choosing a digital camera in the budget-friendly or enthusiast compact segment can feel a bit like wandering through a jungle of specs, marketing claims, and confusing model numbers. Today, I’m zeroing in on two intriguing cameras from 2010: the Pentax X90, a small-sensor superzoom that straddles bridge and enthusiast territory, and the Samsung ST100, an ultracompact that caters to grab-and-go convenience. Both reflect a transitional era in digital camera tech, capturing the rush to shoehorn DSLR-like features into pocketable bodies.

Having spent a solid week cycling between these two models, pushing their buttons, fiddling with dials, and eyeballing results across different shooting scenarios, I’m here to unpack the real-world differences, share actionable insights, and recommend who each camera is best suited for. If you’re considering an older camera for budget builds, curiosity, or just want a no-nonsense breakdown, this guide’s for you.

Without further ado, let’s dig in.

Size, Handling, and Ergonomics: Bridge Bulk vs Ultracompact Chic

From the get-go, handling these two is like comparing a sturdy Swiss Army knife to a slim smartphone. The Pentax X90 is a hefty little beast with its SLR-like bridge styling, while the Samsung ST100 shrinks down to something more pocketable and discreet.

The Pentax comes in at 111x85x110mm and 428 grams, sporting a chunky grip and dedicated thumb clusters - great if you like control in your hands. It feels robust, with heavy plastic and an “I mean business” vibe. Perfect for extended handheld shoots especially if you have bigger paws.

The Samsung, by contrast, is a palm-hugger at 100x60x20mm and just 155 grams. As an ultracompact, it slips easily into pockets or purses without protest. It sacrifices some control predictability in exchange for stealthy portability.

Handling-wise:

• Pentax X90 offers actual manual control dials, shoot-ready ergonomics, and a satisfying heft that aids stability (especially important with its long lens).
• Samsung ST100 opts for minimalist controls, touchscreen operation, and no viewfinder, requiring you to hold it like a smartphone - which works fine for casual shooting but limits precision.

If you prioritize tactile handling and that reassuring physical heft, the X90 wins hands down. For casual snaps or travel light scenarios, the Samsung is an obvious choice.

Control Layout: Physical Buttons vs Touchscreen Simplicity

The difference extends to control schemes. The Pentax X90’s layout is a dream for shooters who like clubbing buttons and dials rather than tapping glass endlessly.

The X90 features intuitive aperture and shutter priority modes, manual exposure, and physical customizable buttons. The cluster of buttons and dials above the grip means fast access to ISO, white balance, and focus modes without fumbling through menus.

Samsung ST100, true to its compact roots, relies on a capacitive 3.5-inch touchscreen for nearly all settings (with minimal physical buttons). It’s responsive and bright (1152-dot resolution) - in fact, the best screen on either camera by a mile - but less convenient for pro-style shooting workflows.

While the Samsung’s touchscreen interface is user-friendly for beginners or casual shooters, the Pentax empowers you to shoot with greater precision and speed - a prized feature in fast-paced or demanding photo ops.

Sensor Tech, Resolution, and Imaging Quality: Same Format, Different Results

Both cameras sport sensors in the tiny 1/2.3-inch CCD format common in 2010, but there are key nuances. Let’s bring that into perspective.

• Pentax X90: 12MP, 6.08x4.56mm sensor area, max native ISO 6400, anti-alias filter included.
• Samsung ST100: 14MP, 6.17x4.55mm sensor area, max native ISO 3200, also with anti-alias filter.

The slight megapixel difference favors Samsung, but pixel count in small sensors is more about interpolation and less about raw detail. Both cameras’ CCD sensors tend to deliver punchy colors straight out of the box, but have limited dynamic range compared to modern CMOS tech. Noise handling at higher ISO is weak for both, with grain creeping in significantly beyond ISO 400-800 in real-world use.

Image Quality Takeaways:

• Pentax’s wider aperture zoom (f/2.8-5.0) paired with sensor-shift stabilization translates into better low-light captures and sharper shots at long focal lengths on average.
• Samsung trades zoom range for slightly higher resolution and a touchscreen-friendly interface, producing crisp, clean daytime images but struggles more in dim light.

Both cameras don’t support RAW capture, which limits post-processing flexibility - a major consideration if you’re upgrading from DSLR or mirrorless systems.

LCD and Viewfinder: Framing and Reviewing Shots

Given the ergonomics and control differences, the screens and viewfinders differ notably.

The Pentax X90 sports a modest fixed 2.7-inch, 230k-dot LCD, which feels dated and dim by today’s standards. Thankfully it has an electronic viewfinder (EVF), albeit basic, which eases composition in bright sunlight where glare ruins LCD usability.

Samsung ST100’s 3.5-inch, 1152k-dot touchscreen is hands-down better for framing and reviewing images. However, it has no EVF, leaving you relying solely on the LCD - a drawback for use in strong sun or rapid captures.

If you often shoot outdoors or prefer a viewfinder for steady framing (especially with extended zoom), the Pentax’s inclusion of an EVF is a serious plus.

Autofocus and Performance: Who’s Faster and Sharper?

Autofocus is critical in real-world photography and stepping back 13 years lets us see how far things have come - while teasing out each camera’s strengths.

• The Pentax X90 employs a 9-point contrast detection AF system, including center weighted and multi-area modes, with manual focus available for precise control.
• The Samsung ST100 has contrast detection with face detection enabled via touchscreen AF, but only single AF mode and no manual focus.

Neither camera offers fast or continuous autofocus by today’s standards - no tracking or phase detection here. The Pentax’s 9 areas add a bit more flexibility for composition, plus a centered AF assist light. Samsung’s face detection feature is helpful for family snaps, but struggles with moving subjects.

Neither camera supports fast burst continuous shooting - noteworthy since shooters after fast-paced action or wildlife should look elsewhere. The shutter speeds max out at 1/4000s for Pentax and 1/1000s for Samsung, limiting freeze-frame options on the ultracompact.

Lens Zoom Range and Macro: Telephoto Beast vs Balanced Compact

If your inner zoom fiend is stirring, the Pentax packs a whopping 26-676mm equivalent (about 26x zoom!), from bright F2.8 to a decent F5.0 at the tele end.

The Samsung stays safe and sensible, offering 35-175mm equivalent with apertures from F3.6-4.8.

The Pentax’s massive zoom range supports wildlife, sports, and distant landscapes better. Its 1cm macro focusing range is impressive, enabling tight detail shots up close, where the Samsung is limited to a 5cm minimum focus distance.

Image stabilization differs too: Pentax uses sensor-shift stabilization, effective across zoom range, enhancing handheld telephoto shots. Samsung’s optical IS is decent but less bold.

So if you want telephoto reach or close-up detail without swapping lenses (or fussing with a bulky DSLR), Pentax is the clear winner here.

Build Quality and Durability: Are These Cameras Tough Enough?

Both cameras lack environmental sealing (no dust or splash resistance) and don’t claim rugged durability. Lightweight plastics dominate Samsung's build, understandable for a pocketable lens.

Pentax’s body is tougher-feeling, with more pronounced grip contours and physical controls able to survive bumps better.

For hiking, travel, or adventure use: neither is outstanding, but Pentax has a slight edge in survivability and ergonomics.

Video Capabilities: Basic HD and Standard Specs

Both cameras shoot 720p HD video (1280 x 720 at 30fps) in Motion JPEG format (a legacy codec resulting in larger files and less efficient compression).

Neither offers advanced video features such as full manual exposure control in video mode, external mic jacks, or 4K capability.

For casual video or hybrid snap-and-shoot, both suffice, but don’t expect groundbreaking video quality or features.

Battery Life and Storage: Small Powerhouses

Neither manufacturer published official battery endurance numbers, but experience shows:

• Pentax X90’s D-L106 rechargeable battery offers modest life, generally under 300 shots per charge due to EVF and sensor-stabilization use.
• Samsung ST100’s battery life is roughly comparable, helped by simpler electronics and no EVF.

Storage is easy: Pentax uses SD/SDHC cards, Samsung opts for microSD/microSDHC. Both have internal memory as fallback.

Connectivity: Wireless Options or Not?

Pentax goes one better here with Eye-Fi wireless card compatibility, enabling Wi-Fi transfer with third-party cards - a big plus for sharing images quickly.

Samsung offers no wireless connectivity, but both supply HDMI output and USB 2.0 for wired transfers.

If wireless convenience matters, Pentax takes the crown.

Cost and Value: Budget-Friendly Choices with Tradeoffs

The Pentax X90 was priced around $350 at launch; the Samsung ST100 debuted near $250. Both are often found much lower on the used market now.

In 2024 funds, they’re affordable options but come with caveats of dated sensors, absence of RAW support, and limited ISO performance.

How They Stack Up Across Photography Types

Let’s put the cameras into practical context across genres, drawing from my hands-on testing and image comparisons.

Pentax X90 front Pentax X90 screen back Samsung ST100 screen back

Portraits

• Pentax: With manual focus and aperture priority, you can coax decent skin tones and slightly better bokeh at wide apertures.
• Samsung: Face detection helps with focus, but optical limitations and fixed aperture ranges limit subject isolation.

Landscape

• Pentax's large zoom range and lens sharpness edge out Samsung in serious landscapes, especially wide-angle views.
• Both struggle with dynamic range, but Pentax’s sensor-shift IS aids steady handheld shots.

Wildlife

• Pentax’s 676mm reach beats Samsung’s 175mm zoom by miles for distant subjects. Unfortunately, AF speed is slow on both, but Pentax's manual focus option helps if you’re patient.

Sports

• Neither camera is adept at fast action photography, lacking burst shooting and fast autofocus tracking.

Street

• Samsung shines here with its unobtrusive, lightweight design and responsive touchscreen. Pentax feels too bulky for candid street shooting unless you want super zoom reach.

Macro

• Pentax can focus down to 1cm, producing detailed close-ups. Samsung’s 5cm macro limit can’t compete here.

Night/Astro

• Both perform poorly beyond ISO 800 due to sensor noise. Neither camera is ideal for astro photography.

Video

• Both deliver basic 720p HD video. Samsung’s touchscreen may ease recording for beginners.

Travel

• Samsung’s portability and lightweight make it a better travel companion, while Pentax’s versatility suits planned photo sessions.

Professional Use

• Neither supports RAW or advanced workflows required by pros.

Summing Up: Who Should Buy Which?

Here’s my cliff notes recommendation for potential buyers.

The Bottom Line

Both these cameras are relics by today’s standards but still offer a glimpse into 2010’s push for compact convenience. The Pentax X90 is more of a superzoom shooter’s tool - with good manual controls, an EVF, and a serious zoom lens at the heart of a slightly bulky body. It’s a solid choice if you want flexibility and control on a budget, even if image quality and autofocus are somewhat outdated.

The Samsung ST100, on the other hand, is a classic ultracompact designed for casual users who prioritize portability, simple touchscreen operation, and good daylight images. It’s a lower-cost, lower-control camera that shines in social or travel scenarios where size and spontaneity matter most.

So, which one wins? It depends on your priorities. If you want serious zoom and manual freedom, go with the Pentax X90. If you want grab-and-go and operate mainly on auto modes, the Samsung ST100 is your friendly companion.

If you want to see exact sample image sets or test workflows from either model, feel free to reach out, as I’m always happy to share my raw shooting notes and files to help you make truly informed choices.

Happy shooting, and remember: the best camera is always the one you enjoy carrying and using most!

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