Ricoh CX1 vs Samsung WB850F: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Compact Contenders

In the realm of compact cameras, it’s often a balancing act between size, zoom capability, image quality, and usability. Today, we’re diving deep into a comparative analysis of two small-sensor compacts from different eras and brands: the Ricoh CX1, a 2009 release emphasizing simplicity and solid optics, and the Samsung WB850F, a 2012 superzoom compact that tries to pack more features and range into a similar form factor.

Having logged extensive field time with both cameras across multiple photography genres, this analysis goes beyond specs into a nuanced evaluation of real-world performance, shooting experience, and value. Whether you’re an enthusiast looking for a pocketable travel companion or a beginner seeking an affordable point-and-shoot, this guide breaks down who each camera serves best, backed by hands-on testing insights.

Let’s start by anchoring this comparison with a look at their physical design and ergonomics.

Compact Yet Distinct: Size and Handling in the Field

At first glance, the Ricoh CX1 and Samsung WB850F appear to cater to similar compact-cam audiences. Both use the prevalent 1/2.3" sensor size, keeping the bodies pocket-friendly. The Ricoh CX1 measures 102 x 58 x 28 mm and weighs around 180 grams, while the Samsung WB850F comes in slightly larger at 109 x 62 x 25 mm and 250 grams.

Ergonomics:
Ricoh’s CX1 feels a bit more compact and light in hand, which is a double-edged sword. While great for portability, it also means fewer dedicated controls and a smaller grip that may challenge steady shooting, especially at long focal lengths. The more robust Samsung WB850F, with its broader body and slightly bulkier profile, affords a more substantial grip, helping balance its longer zoom lens.

Button Layout & Control Access:
Neither camera is truly designed for rapid manual control enthusiasts. The CX1 keeps things minimalistic - no dedicated dials for exposure modes or ISO, and the lens is fixed, limiting interaction mostly to single AF and basic menu navigation. Meanwhile, the WB850F introduces more sophisticated exposure options like aperture, shutter priority, and manual modes, controlled through its button array.

The Samsung’s weight and girth advantage allow it to carry a longer zoom and somewhat more complex controls without becoming unwieldy. Both lack viewfinders, relying solely on rear LCD screens for composition.

To visualize top control differences:

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

At their cores, both cameras share the same 1/2.3-inch sensor dimension (6.17 x 4.55 mm) - a common compact camera standard. But there are crucial differences:

• Ricoh CX1: Features a 9MP CMOS sensor paired with Ricoh’s Smooth Imaging Engine IV processor.
• Samsung WB850F: Houses a 16MP Back-Side Illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor, an advancement that enhances light-gathering efficiency for better low-light performance.

Resolution and Detail:
Under controlled lighting, the WB850F’s 16MP sensor yields noticeably higher resolution output (4608 x 3456 pixels), which is a boon for landscape photographers or anyone cropping post-capture. The CX1’s 9MP maximum (3456 x 2592) can still hold its own for casual prints and social sharing but lacks the extra detail headroom.

ISO Performance:
While neither is a low-light champion by modern standards, the BSI sensor in the WB850F demonstrates better noise control at higher ISOs, especially above ISO 800. The CX1 caps ISO at 1600 but is noisier and softer in high ISO shots.

Dynamic Range:
Neither camera is exceptional in dynamic range, constrained by their sensor size and processing. Both struggle with blown highlights in harsh sunlight but handle shadows moderately well if exposure is managed carefully.

For photographers prioritizing image quality, especially in challenging lighting, the WB850F’s sensor technology gives it a meaningful leg-up.

Display and User Interface: Framing Your Shots and Navigating Menus

Both cameras are limited to fixed 3-inch LCD panels with no tilting or touchscreen support. Here, subtle design choices impact usability:

• Ricoh CX1: Offers a 3-inch screen with 920k dots resolution, rendering a crisp, detailed preview. However, being an older model, it lacks touch responsiveness or menu shortcut keys, so navigation relies on directional pads and menus which feel clunky during quick adjustments.

• Samsung WB850F: Sports a 3-inch AMOLED display, albeit at a lower 614k dot count. The AMOLED screen gives vibrant colors and deep blacks, improving preview aesthetics and visibility in varied lighting conditions. Menu navigation feels smoother, aided by mode dials and quick-access buttons.

Neither camera includes an electronic viewfinder, so relying on the LCD for composing outdoors can challenge visibility in bright sunlight, though the WB850F’s AMOLED tech partially mitigates this.

Lens and Zoom Abilities: How Far and How Wide?

The heart of compact camera appeal lies in their fixed lenses - and here’s where the cameras diverge most:

• Ricoh CX1: Equipped with a 28-200mm (35mm equivalent) lens offering 7.1x optical zoom. The maximum aperture ranges from f/3.3 to f/5.2. While this range covers everyday shooting scenarios from wide-angle street to medium telephoto portraits, it falls short for subjects requiring longer reach, like wildlife or some sports.

• Samsung WB850F: Packs a more ambitious 23-483mm (21x optical zoom), with f/2.8 to f/5.9 aperture. The ultra-telephoto reach is impressive given the compact body, enabling much greater flexibility for distant subjects - think wildlife or concert photography. The faster f/2.8 aperture at the wide end also helps in lower light.

Macro Capability:
CX1 shines here with a minimum focus as close as 1cm, enabling detailed close-ups of small subjects with crispness. The WB850F can focus as close as 5cm, decent but not as tight, limiting extreme macro shots.

Overall, if zoom reach and telephoto versatility are priorities, the Samsung clearly leads, but for macro or street shooting where compactness and close focusing matter, Ricoh’s lens remains competitive.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Reliability

Both utilize contrast-detection autofocus without phase detection - standard for compacts of their generation - but performance nuances surface in practice.

• Ricoh CX1: Offers only single AF, no continuous or tracking autofocus modes. Focus acquisition is generally reliable but slow compared to newer cameras, and hunting can be an issue in low contrast or dim light. No face detection is present, so portraiture requires careful framing.

• Samsung WB850F: Singles out better AF with face detection, center, selective, and tracking AF options. Although AF continuous is not available, the inclusion of face detection and selective AF assist compositional precision, especially for casual portrait work and street shooting.

Burst Shooting:
WB850F includes a continuous shooting mode at 10fps (with some caveats on buffer depth), enabling faster capture of action sequences than the CX1, which lacks continuous shooting altogether.

This makes the Samsung more accommodating to dynamic subjects like kids in motion or simple sports scenes, while the Ricoh is more suited for deliberate single captures.

Video Features: From Casual Clips to More Ambitious Footage

• Ricoh CX1: Limits video to VGA resolution (640x480) at 30fps, encoded as Motion JPEG. This is fairly rudimentary, producing grainy, low resolution output by today’s standards.

• Samsung WB850F: Offers Full HD 1080p video at 30fps alongside 720p and VGA options, encoded in MPEG-4 and H.264, which yield better compression and quality. Video stabilization is provided optically via the lens, assisting smoother clips when shooting handheld.

If video is a consideration, the WB850F is the clear winner with modern HD formats and more versatile recording modes, while CX1’s video remains very basic for occasional use.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Powered on the Move

• Ricoh CX1: Uses DB-70 battery; official battery life not stated, but in practical scenarios tends toward modest capacity - around 200 shots per charge typical for this class.

• Samsung WB850F: Employs the SLB-10A battery, commonly used in Samsung compacts, with improved longevity, generally delivering 300-350 shots per charge.

Both cameras store images on SD/SDHC cards with one slot each. Samsung adds compatibility for SDXC cards, beneficial for large capacity cards needed by its higher resolution and HD video files.

Connectivity and Extras: Modern Conveniences

The CX1 is quite barebones - no wireless connectivity or GPS - reflecting its 2009 release era and compact class. USB 2.0 is the sole wired interface.

Conversely, the WB850F embraces more modern convenience with:

• Built-in Wi-Fi for wireless transfer and remote shooting.
• Integrated GPS for geo-tagging images, a boon for travel photographers.
• HDMI output for direct viewing on HDTVs.

While neither supports microphone ports or advanced video features, these extras push Samsung’s camera ahead in usability and sharing versatility, especially relevant in the social media age.

Durability and Build Quality: Will it Last Through the Adventure?

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, dust-proofing, or water resistance - typical for compact point-and-shoots.

Build quality is adequate for casual use; Ricoh CX1 feels a bit plasticky but solid enough, while Samsung WB850F’s slightly larger frame provides a perception of increased robustness.

Neither model is shockproof or freezeproof, thus caution is advised in rough conditions.

Practical Performance Across Photography Genres

Let’s translate these specifications and features into real-world photography discipline insights.

Portrait Photography:

• CX1’s lack of face detection and basic AF limits quick captures. Color rendition is decent but can struggle with skin tone subtlety due to older sensor tech. Its macro ability benefits tight facial details for creative effects, but overall slower AF is a drawback.
• WB850F’s face detection and AF versatility make portraits easier to track. The higher resolution sensor captures greater detail; however, bokeh quality is limited by small sensor and lens speed at telephoto.

Landscape Photography:

• CX1 offers respectable resolution but less dynamic range. Its lens’ wide end (28mm) is adequate but not expansive.
• WB850F, with a wider 23mm equivalent angle and higher resolution, produces more detailed and vibrant landscapes. However, neither offers weather sealing, limiting rugged outdoor use without accessories.

Wildlife and Sports:

• The CX1’s moderate 7.1x zoom and sluggish AF rule it out for fast-moving subjects.
• The WB850F shines here with 21x zoom and faster, more intelligent AF (including tracking). Its 10fps burst supports action shots, though buffer sizes limit extended bursts.

Street Photography:

• CX1’s compact size and reasonable wide end lens make it more discreet.
• WB850F is bulkier but offers face detection and better low-light capabilities, though at some cost to stealth.

Macro Photography:

• CX1 dominates, focusing as close as 1cm with sharpness and ease - excellent for flower or object detail.
• WB850F’s 5cm minimum focus limits extreme close-ups.

Night and Astro:

• Both cameras are handicapped by tiny sensors; however, WB850F’s BSI sensor marginally outperforms CX1 in low-light noise and ISO handling. Neither supports long exposure modes ideal for astrophotography without external support.

Video Work:

• WB850F’s Full HD and optical stabilization offer usable video for casual filmmakers.
• CX1’s low-res VGA video is only suitable for snapshots.

Travel Photography:

• CX1’s smaller size and lighter weight appeal to minimalist travelers.
• WB850F’s zoom versatility, GPS, and Wi-Fi better serve those wanting an all-in-one shooter with connectivity.

Professional Use:

• Neither is aimed at professional work requiring RAW shooting or high-end precision; both lack RAW support and ruggedness, limiting workflow integration for pros.

Overall Performance and Value: What Do The Scores Say?

Based on combined tests of image quality, performance, usability, and feature set, the Samsung WB850F ranks notably higher overall due to its advanced sensor, extended zoom, and video capabilities.

The Ricoh CX1, while more modest in ambition, provides competent image quality for casual users seeking simplicity and decent macro photos, all in a smaller package.

Wrapping It Up: Which Camera Fits Your Needs?

Here is my distilled recommendation based on extensive hands-on experience with both cameras:

Final Thoughts

Neither camera would be a first choice in today’s mirrorless-dominated market, but both carved a meaningful niche in their time. The Ricoh CX1 is a reliable, compact shooter with excellent macro prowess for the price-conscious, while the Samsung WB850F aggressively packs features and zoom versatility into a slightly larger body, appealing to those looking for more creative flexibility.

The key takeaway: compact cameras often demand tradeoffs. The CX1 values simplicity and size; the WB850F embraces complexity and zoom power. Put another way, this dog either wags its tail or hunts - choose what fits your shooting style best!

Sample Comparison Shots

To conclude, here are representative sample images from both cameras under varied conditions. Note differences in resolution, color reproduction, depth, and noise:

Ricoh CX1 front Ricoh CX1 screen back Samsung WB850F front Samsung WB850F screen back

Reviewing these real-world results alongside these in-depth observations should give you a clear picture of which compact might best earn a place in your gear collection.

Happy shooting!