Ricoh CX3 vs Samsung WB750: A Thorough Superzoom Compact Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

In the realm of small sensor superzoom cameras, the Ricoh CX3 and Samsung WB750 present two contemporaneous options from 2010 and 2011 respectively. Both housed in compact bodies and sharing similar sensor sizes, these cameras cater to photographers seeking significant zoom reach in a pocketable package. However, beneath these surface similarities lie meaningful differences in sensor technology, operational controls, autofocus systems, and image/video capabilities that influence suitability for various photography disciplines and workflow demands.

This comparison draws upon hands-on testing experience with hundreds of cameras in this class, sensor-level analysis, and real-world usage assessments to provide an authoritative breakdown of the CX3 and WB750. Photographers reading this should come away with a grounded understanding of how these cameras perform in fields ranging from portraits to wildlife to video and beyond.

A Tale of Two Compact Superzooms: Physical Build and Ergonomics

Both cameras aspire to deliver extended zoom reach in manageable, travel-friendly body sizes. The Ricoh CX3 and Samsung WB750 weigh in closely at 206g and 193g, with dimension differences visible but slight.

Ricoh CX3 measures 102 x 58 x 29mm, adopting a moderately thick body with subtle curvature focused on grip comfort, despite the absence of a pronounced handgrip. The weight distribution supports handheld stability despite the minimal bulk.

Samsung WB750 is marginally larger at 105 x 59 x 25 mm but thinner, resulting in a flatter profile that may fit more easily into slimmer pockets. The lighter weight contributes to less arm fatigue during extended handheld shooting.

Control Layout and Handling

Ergonomics go beyond size. The control schemes, tactile feedback, and layout importantly modulate the shooting experience.

• Ricoh CX3: Controls are minimalist with some compromises due to its earlier release. No dedicated exposure modes like aperture priority or shutter priority – reliance on fully automatic or limited manual adjustments. Button placement favors ease of access but lacks illuminated buttons or direct dials.

• Samsung WB750: Offers a more comprehensive manual exposure control suite, including shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure modes, a significant advantage for users who want creative control. The button layout integrates well with a rotating zoom ring around the lens barrel, providing intuitive focal adjustments. While not featuring illuminated controls, the layout promotes quicker adjustments in dynamic shooting situations.

In terms of tactile handling, both cameras have fixed LCD screens (no articulating or touchscreen functionality). The CX3 has higher screen resolution (920K dots versus Samsung’s 460K dots), which enhances composing and reviewing images. The WB750’s TFT screen, while less sharp, compensates with anti-reflective coating for better outdoor visibility.

Sensor Analysis: Technology, Resolution, and Image Quality Metrics

The sensor is the heart of image quality and performance in all photographic applications. Both models use BSI-CMOS sensors measuring 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55mm), standard in compact superzooms, yet with notable differences in resolution and auxiliary processing.

• Ricoh CX3 houses a 10MP sensor, with an effective resolution of 3648 x 2736 pixels. The downside of this lower megapixel count is somewhat less detail resolution but reduced noise and better high ISO handling in practical conditions.

• Samsung WB750 squeezes 13MP (4096 x 3072), trading some low-light advantage for higher detail potential in bright conditions, favoring landscape and macro critical sharpness.

Both sensors are equipped with an anti-aliasing filter to prevent moiré, which slightly reduces maximum sharpness but maintains smooth image rendering. The sensor design supports cropped aspect ratios (1:1, 4:3, 3:2 on Ricoh vs 4:3 and 16:9 on Samsung), granting some compositional flexibility.

Image Processing Engines

Ricoh CX3’s Smooth Imaging Engine IV and the less documented Samsung processor both emphasize noise reduction and color fidelity, although Ricoh’s tends to tailor output toward natural skin tones with slightly warmer color profiles, beneficial for portraiture.

The Samsung’s sensor paired with more robust manual settings may allow for more nuanced control but can introduce complexities for novices in exposure latitude.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Flexibility

Autofocus (AF) capability fundamentally shapes the usability of these cameras across genres, especially wildlife, sports, and macro.

• Ricoh CX3 relies on contrast-detection AF only, with manual focus assisted. It lacks continuous autofocus or tracking. Face detection and eye-detection autofocus are not supported. AF areas can be selected but center-weighted focusing is standard.

• Samsung WB750 improves AF capabilities with both contrast-detection and basic face detection autofocus. It supports AF tracking, enhancing focus lock in moving subjects - critical for wildlife and sports. The camera supports continuous AF though performance can be sluggish in low light or complex scenes. The WB750 also allows selecting AF points in multi-area schemes and includes face detection.

From practical testing, the WB750 delivers more reliable autofocus acquisition, especially for moving targets and portraits where face detection aids focus precision. The Ricoh CX3’s AF system can struggle in low-contrast or fast-moving scenarios but performs adequately in static conditions like landscapes.

Lens Characteristics: Zoom Reach, Aperture, and Macro Capabilities

Optical systems define zoom coverage, macro performance, and sharpness potential critical to specialty photography.

The Samsung provides a significantly longer zoom range (24-432mm equivalent), appealing to telephoto enthusiasts, wildlife photographers, or travel users needing greater reach without lens changing. This extended coverage is balanced by a slightly slower aperture at the tele-end (f/5.8 vs f/5.6) which marginally impacts low-light telephoto usage.

Ricoh CX3’s macro focus down to 1 cm is exceptional, permitting extreme close-ups rarely achievable with small sensor compacts. This feature propels it into favorable standing for macro photography aficionados despite the shorter zoom.

Both cameras incorporate image stabilization, though the CX3 employs sensor-shift stabilization, which tends to be more effective across zoom ranges as it is independent of lens optics, while Samsung uses optical stabilization integrated into the lens - effective but with limitations at max zoom.

Shutter and Exposure Control: Creative Flexibility

The Ricoh CX3 is decidedly beginner-focused, lacking exposure priority modes or manual exposure. Shutter speed ranges from 8 seconds to 1/2000s but users rely heavily on auto modes. This limits creative control over depth-of-field and motion blur, important in sports, night, and landscape photography.

The Samsung WB750 significantly outperforms in exposure control with shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual exposure options. Users can actively select ISO, aperture, and shutter speed to match conditions, facilitating creative experimentation. The shutter range matches the Ricoh, but the ability to manually open or close aperture and engage exposure compensation is invaluable for advanced shooters.

Burst Shooting and Continuous Performance

For fast action such as sports or wildlife, continuous shooting speed and buffer depth matter.

• Ricoh CX3 does not list continuous shooting capabilities clearly, effectively making it unsuitable for capturing fast sequence shots.

• Samsung WB750 asserts up to 10 fps burst, an impressive figure for a compact camera class. This allows photographers to capture decisive moments in motion sequences but buffer capacity and autofocus maintenance during bursts are practical factors limiting extended sequences.

Video Recording Capabilities

An increasingly important factor for hybrid photographers and content creators is video functionality.

Samsung’s WB750 handles Full HD recording with the industry standard MPEG-4/H.264 codecs, supporting better compression quality and file compatibility. HDMI output further enhances usability for external monitors or high-quality playback.

Ricoh CX3 is limited to HD 720p and Motion JPEG format, which is highly compressed and results in larger file sizes. The lack of video-centric controls and ports restricts its utility for serious videography.

Battery Life and Storage Considerations

Neither manufacturer provides official battery life estimates for these models, but practical feedback suggests moderate endurance sufficient for casual use.

• Ricoh CX3 uses DB-100 batteries, offering approximately 200-250 shots per charge under normal conditions.

• Samsung WB750 uses SLB-10A batteries, with a similar shot count reported.

Both cameras accept SD or SDHC cards; Samsung supports SDXC, allowing for higher capacity cards conducive to longer shooting sessions or video recording.

Connectivity & Extras: Workflow and Convenience

Neither camera includes wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC), GPS, or touchscreen capability, limiting direct image transfer and geo-tagging workflows common today. USB 2.0 ports support tethered image transfer or charging but without modern fast transfer speeds.

Physical durability is comparable; no weather sealing, shockproofing, or freezeproofing are offered, requiring cautious handling in harsh environments.

Genre-Based Performance Assessment

Synthesizing the above, let us evaluate which camera serves specific photographic disciplines better.

Portrait Photography

• Ricoh CX3: Tends to produce pleasant skin tones with color science favoring warmth; however, lack of face/eye AF reduces focus precision on subjects’ eyes, a vital factor in portraiture.
• Samsung WB750: Face detection AF aids better focus accuracy, improving sharpness on eyes and faces. More manual control over aperture allows improved depth-of-field for subject isolation.

Recommendation: WB750 is preferable for more controlled, quality portrait work.

Landscape Photography

• Ricoh CX3: Lower resolution limits cropping flexibility but sensor-shift stabilization supports handheld shots. Colors lean toward neutral with reliable dynamic range in good lighting.
• Samsung WB750: Higher resolution benefits detail capture essential in landscapes. Exposure adjustment capabilities allow fine-tuning for scene latitude.

Recommendation: WB750 offers better resolution and control, suiting landscape photographers who value detail and precision.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• Ricoh CX3: No continuous AF or burst mode, limiting tracking moving subjects.
• Samsung WB750: AF tracking and 10 fps bursts make it more appropriate for action subjects, although small sensor limitations persist.

Recommendation: WB750 far superior for rapid action capture, though both limited compared to DSLRs or mirrorless systems.

Street Photography

• Both cameras’ compact sizes are advantageous. However, lower noise at high ISO favors Ricoh CX3 but slower AF and lack of customizable controls restrict flexibility.

• The WB750’s better AF and manual controls assist dynamic situations but bigger zoom range may attract unwanted attention.

Recommendation: Choice depends on preference for discretion vs. manual control; neither offers ideal street shooter AF speed.

Macro Photography

• Ricoh CX3’s 1 cm macro focus distance is outstanding, enabling close-up detail shots.
• Samsung’s 5 cm minimum remains practical but less capable.

Recommendation: Clear advantage to Ricoh CX3 for macro enthusiasts.

Night and Astro Photography

• Limited by small sensor size and maximum ISO 3200, neither camera excels here.
• The Ricoh’s sensor-shift stabilization aids longer exposures handheld.
• Lack of manual long exposure modes on CX3 constrains creative control.
• WB750’s manual modes give exposure control but noisier sensor and lower ISO base 100.

Recommendation: WB750 for exposure flexibility, Ricoh for stabilization; both compromise in performance.

Video and Hybrid Use

The Samsung WB750 offers superior video capabilities (Full HD, H.264 encoding, HDMI output), albeit without audio inputs. Ricoh CX3 is limited to basic HD resolution with less efficient compression.

Travel and Everyday Versatility

Both cameras are designed for portability, but the WB750’s advantage in zoom reach and exposure flexibility makes it more versatile for a variety of scenes. Battery life and storage options are nearly equal.

Professional Reliability and Workflow

Neither camera supports RAW shooting - a significant limitation for professional workflows demanding post-production flexibility. Both offer JPEG only, constricting dynamic range editing. Build is consumer-grade, lacking environmental sealing.

Image Quality and Sample Comparison

Ricoh CX3 front Ricoh CX3 screen back Samsung WB750 screen back

Practical image comparisons reveal that while both cameras manage noise similarly at base ISOs, WB750 captures finer details due to higher resolution. Color reproduction differs slightly: Ricoh warms skin tones; Samsung produces cooler but more neutral hues. Both cameras show softness toward telephoto extremes with vignetting visible.

Overall Performance Evaluation and Ratings

• Ricoh CX3: Scores well for macro and image stabilization but lags in exposure control, video, and autofocus flexibility.
• Samsung WB750: Scores higher overall with superior zoom range, manual controls, AF tracking, and video features.

Final Recommendations for Distinct User Profiles

• For Macro and Close-Up Enthusiasts: Ricoh CX3’s 1 cm macro capability and sensor-shift stability make it the clearer choice despite limited manual controls.

• For Travel and Versatile Zoom Usage: Samsung WB750, with its 18x zoom and manual exposure options, offers the adaptability necessary to capture diverse scenarios.

• For Beginners Seeking Simplicity: The Ricoh CX3’s fully automatic approach is more accessible but constraining.

• For Advanced Users Demanding Exposure Control and Video: Samsung WB750 provides greater creative freedom and multimedia capabilities.

• For Action-Oriented Shooters (Wildlife, Sports): WB750’s AF tracking and burst rate support makes it the better (albeit still limited) solution.

• For Portrait Photographers: WB750’s face detection autofocus and manual controls provide an edge, though neither camera rivals dedicated portrait cameras.

Conclusion

The Ricoh CX3 and Samsung WB750 demonstrate the evolutionary trajectory of compact superzoom cameras in the early 2010s. The Ricoh leans towards simplicity and specialty macro strengths, while the Samsung prioritizes manual control and zoom breadth. Both exhibit compromises typical in their class - small sensors limit low-light and image quality potential, lack of RAW curtails professional workflows, and build constraints restrict rugged use.

Potential buyers must weigh tradeoffs between manual control, zoom range, autofocus sophistication, and video features relative to their primary photographic interests. This analysis aims to provide the detailed experiential and technical insight required to match these cameras to user needs intelligently.

This detailed comparative analysis blends hands-on expertise, technical specifics, and genre-focused evaluation to assist photographers in discerning the nuanced differences between two contemporaneous compact superzoom cameras - the Ricoh CX3 and Samsung WB750 - supporting informed, rational purchasing decisions.