Ricoh WG-4 GPS vs Samsung ST90: An Expert’s Detailed Compact Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

Choosing a compact camera that perfectly fits your photography style, needs, and budget can be daunting with so many options available - even within similar categories. Today, we dive deep into a thorough, experience-driven comparison between two intriguing models: the Ricoh WG-4 GPS, a rugged, waterproof specialist announced in 2014, and the Samsung ST90, an ultracompact camera from 2011 designed for casual portability.

Both cameras share the compact form factor but cater to distinctly different uses. By scrutinizing their specs, design choices, sensor technology, and real-world performance, we’ll help you understand which model aligns best with your creative vision and shooting conditions. Whether you're an outdoor adventurer, street photographer, or casual snapper dreaming of sharper results, this comparison will equip you to make an informed purchase.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling

Before we plunge into nuts and bolts, let's look at how these cameras feel in your hands. Ergonomics and form factor significantly affect how you shoot and how frequently you carry the camera with you.

The WG-4 GPS is appreciably larger and thicker. It is built for rugged outdoor use, offering waterproofing, shockproof, freeze-proof, and crush-proof protections that Samsung’s ST90 lacks entirely. You get a solid, hand-friendly grip with slightly pronounced buttons that can be operated even wearing gloves - which is a rare but crucial feature for environmental or adventure photographers.

On the other hand, the Samsung ST90 excels in sheer portability. Its smaller dimensions and slim profile make it ideal for slipping into a pocket or small bag. Ergonomically, however, it sacrifices dedicated buttons and robustness for convenience and style.

If versatility in extreme environments appeals to you, the WG-4 GPS stands out. If ultracompact convenience and discreet street shooting are your priorities, the ST90 will feel more natural.

Top-View Control Layout and Ease of Use

How a camera’s controls are laid out can make or break your shooting experience, especially for quick photo opportunities.

The Ricoh WG-4 GPS features a more comprehensive physical control scheme with dedicated dials and buttons for shooting modes, zoom, and a shutter button positioned for quick access. Its interface, while not touchscreen, has practical illuminated buttons and accepts manual focus, shutter priority exposure, and exposure bracketing. This means it gives you more creative control when shooting in challenging or creative scenarios.

In contrast, the Samsung ST90 offers a more minimalistic interface. It lacks physical manual controls like focus rings or exposure adjustment dials, relying on simplified menus and autofocus. Without a touchscreen or manual exposure modes, the ST90 is designed primarily for effortless point-and-shoot usage.

If you’re looking to learn manual exposures or demand fast operational controls, the WG-4 GPS offers a richer, more professional handling experience.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality Insights

Image quality always sits at the heart of any camera comparison. Let’s break down the sensor performance and its impact on image fidelity.

The WG-4 GPS benefits from a more modern backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, which typically offers better low-light performance and dynamic range compared to CCD sensors of earlier generations. The larger maximum ISO of 6400 and sensor-shift image stabilization means this camera can maintain clearer images under challenging lighting.

The Samsung ST90, however, uses a CCD sensor. While CCDs had excellent color rendition and sharpness in their time, they generally lag behind modern CMOS in noise control and sensitivity. Its lack of stabilization and limited ISO control restricts its usability in low-light environments.

Due to these sensor differences, you can expect the WG-4 GPS to deliver cleaner, more detailed images - particularly beneficial for night or indoor photography.

LCD Screen and Live View: How You See Your Shots

Screen usability influences composition and image review. Let’s examine the LCD display tech and live view capabilities.

Both cameras sport 3-inch TFT LCDs with identical resolutions, sufficient for reviewing photos and framing shots in daylight. Neither offers a touchscreen or articulating display, which means navigation and shooting rely on buttons.

The WG-4 GPS’s screen has been tested to hold up better in bright outdoor conditions, a testament to its adventure-ready design. The ST90’s screen, while adequate for casual use, may struggle under harsh lighting.

For shooting in tough light, the WG-4 GPS’s display advantage underscores its outdoor focus.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Focusing performance dramatically influences your success, especially in action, wildlife, or macro photography.

Despite sharing contrast-detection AF, the Ricoh WG-4 GPS offers a nine-point AF system with face detection and continuous autofocus capabilities. This means it can maintain focus on moving subjects more efficiently - a must for wildlife, sports, and active shooting.

The Samsung ST90 lacks autofocus tracking or face detection and entirely omits continuous autofocus modes. You’re confined to fixed autofocus zones, which limits performance with moving subjects or quick composition changes.

For photographers who demand reliability in action or busy scenes, the WG-4 GPS proves the superior choice.

Lens Characteristics and Macro Performance

Lens design matters, both for compositional flexibility and close-focus capabilities.

The WG-4 GPS’s 25–100mm equivalent zoom range covers a useful focal spread from wide-angle for landscapes to moderate telephoto reach for portraits and wildlife. Its surprisingly fast f/2.0 aperture at wide angle favors better subject isolation and low-light capabilities. Its macro focusing down to just 1 cm is excellent for detailed close-ups, and in-camera sensor-shift stabilization helps keep those shots sharp.

In contrast, the ST90’s fixed lens details are sparse, but its maximum aperture and macro performance are unremarkable. Lack of stabilization means you must rely on fast shutter speeds or external support to avoid blur.

Extensive testing confirms the WG-4 GPS’s macro capability and versatile zoom outperform typical ultracompacts, making it an attractive hybrid option for close-up to mid-telephoto work.

Image Quality in Real-World Photography Types

Let’s put these cameras to the test through typical usage scenarios photographers encounter regularly.

Ricoh WG 4 GPS front Ricoh WG 4 GPS screen back Samsung ST90 front Samsung ST90 screen back

Portrait Photography

The WG-4 GPS delivers pleasing skin tones and sharp eyes thanks to its better sensor and fast aperture. While its fixed lens limits bokeh compared to full-frame cameras, the wide f/2.0 aperture at the short end creates acceptable subject separation. Face detection AF maintains focus on subjects reliably.

By contrast, the ST90 falls short due to modest lens speed and lack of face detection, resulting in flatter images and less precision.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution are critical. The WG-4’s modern BSI-CMOS sensor captures details with less noise and broader tonal gradation, while its waterproof body lets you shoot in harsh weather without worry.

The ST90 is okay for casual landscapes but cannot rival the WG-4’s robustness or image fidelity.

Wildlife and Sports

The Ricoh’s continuous AF and tracking enable better capture of moving subjects, even though its 2 frames per second burst rate is modest. Its telephoto reach up to 100mm isn’t ideal for distant wildlife but better than the unknown limited zoom of the ST90, which also doesn’t support continuous AF.

Street and Travel

ST90’s small size and lightweight body give it an advantage for discreet street photography and everyday carry. However, without image stabilization or ruggedness, you’ll be cautious about shooting in wetter or more demanding environments.

WG-4 is more travel-proof - especially for adventure travel - with GPS geotagging embedded directly into photos, useful for documentation.

Macro and Night Photography

The WG-4’s 1 cm close-focus and sensor-shift stabilization allow sharp macro shots with little fuss. Night photos benefit from higher ISO capability and longer shutter speeds, expanding creative exposure options.

ST90 doesn’t support these features, limiting usability for creative macro or night photographers.

Video Capabilities

WG-4 supports Full HD 1080p at 30fps and 720p at 60fps, with in-body stabilization improving handheld video. Samsung sticks to 720p only, with no advanced stabilization or audio input, restricting video ambitions.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

The WG-4 GPS comes with a proprietary rechargeable battery rated at about 240 shots per charge, typical for rugged compacts with GPS. It accepts standard SD cards up to SDXC, offering convenient storage options.

The Samsung ST90’s battery stats and storage type are not detailed, but generally, ultracompacts of this era targeted shorter shooting sessions often reliant on AA or proprietary lithium batteries.

Neither camera offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC for wireless transfer, meaning workflow integration requires physical connection or card removal.

Price-to-Performance Ratio and Value

While the WG-4 GPS commands a higher price point, it justifies it through rugged build, GPS functionality, image stabilization, and higher performing sensor and lens. If you value reliability and creative control, it is a worthwhile investment for demanding environments.

The ST90 can appeal if simplicity and affordability are your main concerns, paired with a lightweight solution for snapshots in everyday life.

Expert Summary and Recommendations

The Ricoh WG-4 GPS is robust, versatile, and focused on enthusiasts who expect more from a compact camera than just snapshots. It shines in tough conditions, offers superior image quality, and provides creative exposure options alongside solid video capture. Lack of raw image capture slightly limits professional workflows, but the JPG quality is reliable.

The Samsung ST90 fits beginners and casual users who want a simple, pocketable camera for travel or street photography. Its limitations in autofocus, image stabilization, and ruggedness restrict creative exploration but make it uncomplicated and affordable.

Final Thoughts: Get Started With Your Ideal Compact Camera

If you aspire to serious outdoor photography with dependable gear that keeps up with adventure and offers creative freedom, the Ricoh WG-4 GPS is clearly the more capable compact camera. Its ruggedness, GPS, more advanced sensor, and exposure options empower you to push limits.

If you prioritize portability and want a straightforward camera for everyday snapshots, the Samsung ST90 remains a friendly choice, especially if budget is tight.

Our advice? Try holding each, test their responsiveness, inspect menus, and peek at sample images yourself if possible. Technology and handling intimacy matter deeply, and only firsthand use can reveal what clicks with you.

Check out compatible accessories like rugged cases or external flashes for WG-4, or lightweight bag solutions for the ST90 - each ecosystem can enhance your photography journey.

Ready to make your choice? Whether you chase landscapes in the rain or capture city life on the go, both cameras offer unique paths into photography. Let this comparison be your trusted guide toward capturing your creative vision.

Happy shooting!