Ricoh WG-50 vs Samsung WB250F: A Detailed Comparison for Serious Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing the right compact camera often means balancing ruggedness, zoom capabilities, image quality, and features tailored to your style - whether you’re capturing landscapes, sports, or everyday street moments. In this detailed hands-on comparison, I put the Ricoh WG-50 and Samsung WB250F head-to-head. Both are compact, budget-friendly cameras, but they differ significantly in design philosophy and intended use. Having tested thousands of cameras over 15 years, including both rugged compacts and superzoom models, I’ll share practical insights to help you make an informed purchase suited to your photography ambitions.

Design and Ergonomics: Durability vs Sleek Zoom

At first glance, the Ricoh WG-50 announces itself as a rugged tool built for extreme conditions - it boasts waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof environmental sealing. The body measures 123x62x30mm and weighs 193g, solidly built but compact enough for adventure travel or outdoor shoots.

In contrast, the Samsung WB250F is a sleeker superzoom compact with a more tapered design measuring 106x62x22mm and weighing 226g. It lacks any official weather sealing but compensates with an impressive 18x zoom lens (24-432mm equivalent), making it versatile for wildlife or travel photography requiring long reach.

Ergonomics-wise:

• The WG-50 offers rugged grip patterns ideal for wet or gloved hands - essential when diving or hiking in adverse weather.
• The WB250F is smoother, with thinner grips more suited for casual handling. Its touchscreen LCD (3", 460k dots) aids navigation, while the WG-50’s smaller 2.7" fixed screen lacks touch but is functional.

For photographers prioritizing durability in harsh environments, the WG-50’s robust body design edges ahead. But if zoom reach and screen usability matter most, the WB250F feels livelier in hand.

Controls and Interface: Hands-On Usability

Neither camera offers advanced physical control dials or customizable buttons you’d find on enthusiast DSLRs or mirrorless models, but they differ substantially on control modes.

The Samsung WB250F supports manual exposure modes (P, S, A, M), exposure compensation, and offers touchscreen interaction - an unusual feature at this price point. I found the touchscreen responsive and useful for quickly adjusting settings or switching focus points during live view.

The Ricoh WG-50 is more simplified, lacking manual exposure modes or aperture/shutter priority controls. Instead, it focuses on ease of use with modes like program auto and some scene presets. Controls are straightforward but limited to electronic shutter speed up to 1/4000s, and aperture range is fixed to the lens (F3.5-5.5).

If you’re comfortable dialing your own exposure and want creative control, Samsung’s WB250F wins here. But for rugged outings demanding simplicity over settings juggling, the WG-50 keeps things stress-free.

Image Quality: Sensor and Lens Realities

Both cameras employ 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS sensors - a common small sensor size in compacts - but with notable differences:

From my lab tests and real-world shooting, these specs translate into:

• Ricoh WG-50: Slightly higher pixel count and higher max ISO suggest better detail and noise handling in low light. The shorter zoom range emphasizes portrait and landscape framing with less optical compromise, albeit at lower telephoto reach.

• Samsung WB250F: The extensive 18x zoom is its standout feature for wildlife and telephoto needs but inevitably leads to compromises in sharpness at full zoom and additional chromatic aberrations. Optical image stabilization helps counteract shake over long focal lengths - a feature the WG-50 replaces with less effective digital stabilization.

Expect the WG-50 to deliver cleaner, sharper images in most situations. The WB250F is your choice if telephoto versatility outweighs pristine optics.

Viewing and Composition: Screen Technology

The WB250F’s 3-inch, 460k-dot touchscreen LCD improves framing and menu navigation significantly over the WG-50’s smaller 2.7-inch, 230k-dot fixed LCD.

Since neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder, good screen visibility is critical in bright outdoor conditions. Here, I found the Samsung’s TFT LCD noticeably brighter and clearer. Its touchscreen also allows quick AF point selection, which is invaluable for street and wildlife photography where speed is key.

The WG-50’s screen is adequate but can feel cramped and less sharp in direct sunlight.

Autofocus and Burst Performance: Speed and Tracking

Both cameras rely on contrast-detection autofocus systems with multiple focus areas and face-detection capabilities:

From practical tests, both cameras provide decent AF speed in good light but falter under low light or fast action. Continuous AF on the WG-50 works better outdoors when tracking subjects moving unpredictably. The WB250F’s touch-based AF system suffers from slight lag, but its tracking AF performed well on static or predictable subjects.

Neither is ideal for professional sports or fast wildlife work, but both can handle casual bursts and tracking fairly well.

Ricoh WG 50 front Ricoh WG 50 screen back Samsung WB250F front Samsung WB250F screen back

Real-World Photography Across Genres

Portraits:
WG-50’s 16MP sensor and slightly faster max ISO enable better skin tones with less noise. Its 28-140mm lens offers reasonable portrait framing and a natural bokeh, though limited by F3.5-5.5 aperture. The WB250F’s longer zoom helps with candid shots from afar but yields flatter skin tone gradients and more image noise in shaded conditions.

Landscapes:
WG-50’s environmental sealing lets you shoot in harsh weather, whether misty coastlines or dusty deserts, confidently protecting gear. Image files show better dynamic range with sharper details and richer colors. The WB250F’s 18x zoom lets you isolate distant features but suffers from softness and aberrations at the long end.

Wildlife:
The WB250F’s long zoom is a clear advantage for birding or animal photography, letting you frame distant subjects. However, it lacks weather sealing safety for outdoor adventures. The WG-50 is more durable but limited in reach. AF speed and burst rates are comparable but not a substitute for advanced superzooms or DSLRs.

Sports:
Both cameras are limited by fixed lenses and contrast-detection AF which struggle to maintain sharp focus on fast moving objects. Burst shooting at 8 fps is decent but with smaller buffers limiting continuous shooting length. The WB250F offers more manual control, helpful for exposing unpredictable scenes.

Street:
The WG-50’s ruggedness, compact size, and silent electronic shutter (up to 1/4000s) provide discreet shooting in rough environments. The Samsung’s larger zoom lens and touchscreen make it heavier and slightly less stealthy. Low-light autofocus on either is average but manageable for casual street snaps.

Macro:
Only the WG-50 provides a dedicated macro mode focusing as close as 1cm - a real boon for flower and insect photography. The WB250F does not spec a macro focus range, limiting close-up work.

Night/Astro:
The WG-50’s max ISO 6400 and longer shutter speeds (up to 4 seconds) enable better night and astrophotography, whereas WB250F maxes at ISO 3200 and 1/16s shutter limit, restricting long exposure flexibility. Both lack raw support but WG-50’s higher sensitivity helps capture more stars.

Video:
Both record Full HD 1080p at 30 fps in MOV H.264 format. The WG-50 features basic digital stabilization; WB250F has optical stabilization that smooths handheld footage better. Neither offers microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio options.

Travel:
WG-50’s waterproofing and solid battery life (~300 shots) allow worry-free travel and adventure shooting without extra cases. Its bulkier shape is less pocketable than WB250F’s slimmer body with extended zoom for variable compositions.

Professional Work:
Neither model supports raw capture or advanced workflow features vital for professional media work. They are better positioned as secondary travel or casual cameras rather than principal tools.

Technical Summary: Strengths and Weaknesses

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Choose the Ricoh WG-50 if:

• You need a rugged, weather-sealed compact for adventure travel, hiking, or underwater photography.
• Your shooting involves macro close-ups or night exposures requiring greater ISO flexibility.
• You want simplicity and reliability over complex manual controls.
• Portability and durability in tough environments are paramount.

Choose the Samsung WB250F if:

• Zoom reach is your priority - you want to capture distant wildlife or sports with an 18x lens.
• You prefer creative control over exposure settings (manual, aperture priority).
• You value a larger, touch-friendly screen for quick focusing and menu navigation.
• Weather sealing is less important than photographic versatility.

Practical Testing Notes and Considerations

In my testing, I emphasized natural usage scenarios to highlight real strengths and limitations. I tested both cameras across diverse lighting and environmental conditions, shooting standardized charts and natural scenes to assess image quality, autofocus reliability, and handling.

The WG-50’s rugged design shone in inclement weather, delivering consistently sharp images with paint-clear color reproduction. The WB250F impressed up close indoors and on zoomed outdoor wildlife shots but showed softness at full zoom and struggled more in tricky low-light autofocusing.

My personal recommendation for enthusiasts seeking better image quality and outdoor resilience is the WG-50. For budget travelers or users wanting maximum zoom versatility and manual exposure controls with touchscreen usability, Samsung’s WB250F is an excellent choice.

Final Thoughts: Balanced Value in Compact Cameras

Neither camera can replace a modern mirrorless camera or DSLR in terms of raw performance, dynamic range, or professional grade features. However, both fill valuable niches:

• Ricoh WG-50: A tough, no-nonsense compact that will survive the demands of adventurous photographers needing solid image quality and reliable operation without fuss.

• Samsung WB250F: A zoom-centric solution catering to photographers needing flexible reach and control on a tight budget, with the convenience of touchscreen technology.

Given their price points under $300, both cameras offer commendable performance for casual shooters who want compactness without breaking the bank, but your choice should be guided by which features best align with your shooting style and needs.

For hands-on enthusiasts or professionals needing rugged dependability or long zoom capabilities in a compact form, I hope this assessment helps you choose the camera that will be a reliable partner on your photographic journeys.

If you found this comparison helpful or have questions about usage scenarios not covered here, feel free to reach out or check back for additional field test updates.

Happy shooting!