Samsung CL5 vs Sony W310

Samsung CL5 vs. Sony Cyber-shot W310: An Expert Comparative Review of Two Ultracompact Cameras

Choosing the right ultracompact camera can be a surprisingly nuanced decision, especially when you’re weighing options like the Samsung CL5 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W310. Though marketed primarily as pocket-friendly point-and-shoots, these cameras offer different strengths and limitations that influence real-world shooting across multiple genres. In this in-depth comparison, drawn from hands-on testing and technical analysis, we’ll unpack every important aspect - from sensor technology to ergonomics and user experience - to help you find which suits your creative goals best.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling

When it comes to ultracompacts, size and usability are key selling points. Both the Samsung CL5 and Sony W310 are designed for casual shooters who prize portability.

The Samsung CL5 is slightly more compact in width, whereas the Sony W310 is a tad thinner and narrower. Both comfortably fit into a jacket pocket or small bag. However, the slight differences have a subtle impact on handling: the W310’s slightly narrower body feels a bit more secure when holding with one hand, although neither offers pronounced grips or textured surfaces typical of larger cameras. Neither camera is weather-sealed or ruggedized, so you’ll want to keep that in mind for outdoor or travel use.

Control Layout and User Interface

Ultracompacts emphasize simplicity over manual control. But seeing how accessible and intuitive those simple controls are can vary considerably.

Both cameras feature minimalist button layouts. The Samsung CL5 has a traditional control layout with a centered mode dial and four-way navigation buttons. The Sony W310 opts for a circular control dial and clearly labeled function buttons for direct access to essential modes. Neither includes touchscreens or advanced customization options, limiting exposure control and on-the-fly adjustments.

If you value straightforward, no-fuss operation with limited options, both will work well. But if you often want quick ISO adjustment or exposure tweaks, you might feel constrained.

Sensor and Image Quality: How They Capture the Scene

This is where fundamental differences between the two cameras emerge. Despite similarly being ultracompact point-and-shoots, their sensors and imaging capabilities represent two decades’ technology progress.

The Sony W310 sports a slightly larger 1/2.3” sensor with higher 12-megapixel resolution, compared to the Samsung’s 1/2.5” 9-megapixel sensor. This translates into finer detail reproduction and improved dynamic range capability on the Sony, especially noticeable in landscape and everyday shooting.

In our real-world tests, the Sony W310 consistently produced images with cleaner shadows and less noise in mid- to high-ISO settings (ISO 400–800), giving better low-light performance despite both cameras sharing CCD sensor technology. The Samsung CL5’s images tended to show earlier noise onset and less color depth, likely due to older sensor tech and less advanced image processing.

Practical takeaway: If image quality is growth-critical for your photography - whether landscapes, portraits, or low-light scenes - the Sony W310 has a measurable edge here.

Viewing Experience: Screens and User Interface

Both cameras rely on fixed LCD screens without electronic viewfinders, common in ultracompacts from this era.

Both screens offer identical sizes and pixel counts, making them bright enough for framing and previewing shots during daylight and standard indoor conditions. Neither offers touchscreen responsiveness or flip articulation which limits quick self-portraits or video framing flexibility.

During our tests, the Sony screen delivered slightly more vibrant colors and sharper live view due to newer display technology but this is a modest difference in practice.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance

Fast, accurate autofocus is a must-have in any camera, even ultracompacts, especially for moving subjects or low-light conditions.

The Samsung CL5 includes face detection autofocus which, despite being a lightweight implementation, helps lock focus on faces in portraits or casual group shots. The Sony W310 sacrifices face detection but features 9 contrast-detection AF points offering more framing flexibility, although it lacks continuous autofocus for moving subjects.

Neither camera supports burst photography at a speed suitable for action shots - the Sony’s single frame per second burst is modest, and the Samsung lacks burst mode altogether.

Conclusion: For portraits or casual people photography, Samsung’s face detection might help novices nail focus. For general flexible framing, Sony’s multiple AF points are advantageous. Neither is designed for sports or wildlife tracking.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities

Ultracompacts trade manual zoom lenses for compact fixed optics offering moderate versatility but varying in focal ranges.

Sony’s slightly broader zoom range starting at a wider 28 mm equivalent versus Samsung’s 38 mm makes it better suited for wider-angle shots, such as landscapes or indoor group photos. However, the longer telephoto end is almost identical.

The Sony lens is a bit slower at the telephoto end (f/5.8 vs. f/4.5), which can impact low-light reach but balanced by its slightly brighter wide end allowing more flexibility.

Stabilization and Shutter Performance

Image stabilization can make a significant practical improvement in handheld shooting, particularly at telephoto zoom or low shutter speeds.

Sony W310’s sensor-shift image stabilization supports steadier handheld shots, helping photographic clarity in low light or telephoto zoom without a tripod. In contrast, Samsung’s lack of any stabilization requires higher shutter speeds or a tripod to prevent blur.

Sony also offers a slower minimal shutter speed down to 1 second, useful for creative motion blur or night photography compared to Samsung’s 16 seconds.

Flash and Low-Light Capabilities

In low-light, both cameras rely heavily on their built-in flash.

Samsung’s flash has slightly longer range, which combined with face detection AF improves indoor portraits. Sony’s flash is more basic but matched with image stabilization, it still provides solid handheld shots.

In practical tests, the Sony’s sensor and processing handled low light marginally better, with less noise and improved detail in shadows.

Video Recording

Both cameras offer basic movie modes but are not video-centric devices.

Sony W310 offers sensor-shift stabilization during video, a noteworthy advantage for handheld videography at this resolution. Both max out at standard definition 640x480, limiting video quality and professional utility.

Storage, Connectivity, and Power Considerations

Sony’s USB 2.0 port enables easier file transfers compared to Samsung’s lack of any USB, necessitating SD card removal for downloads. Battery life data is unavailable for Samsung; Sony’s NP-BN1 is known to offer decent but not outstanding longevity.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

To better understand how these cameras perform when you pick them up for different photography disciplines, let’s explore their capabilities across a range of use scenarios.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Bokeh

Samsung’s face detection autofocus offers beginner-friendly focusing on human subjects and supports decent skin tone rendering, though color depth and detail are somewhat limited due to the lower resolution sensor.

Sony’s W310, lacking dedicated face detection, requires more cautious focusing but delivers crisper detail and more lifelike colors thanks to its larger sensor and better processing.

Bokeh quality from either fixed lenses is modest at best - ultracompact cameras are not built with large aperture primes for significant background blur.

Landscape Photography: Resolution and Dynamic Range

Sony W310’s higher resolution and larger sensor yields more detailed landscapes with improved dynamic range. Its wider 28 mm focal length is a nice bonus for capturing sweeping vistas.

Samsung CL5, with narrower zoom and less resolution, produces acceptable but less compelling landscape results. The limited dynamic range can underwhelm in challenging light or shadow detail.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Neither camera is built for demanding wildlife or sports shooting:

• Autofocus: Contrast-detection only, no tracking or continuous AF.
• Burst Rate: Below usable frame rates (Sony max 1fps, Samsung none).
• Zoom: Modest telephoto reach (max ~114mm vs professional tele lenses up to 600+mm).

You’ll struggle to capture fast-moving subjects sharply with either. For casual wildlife snapshots, Sony’s quicker autofocus and image stabilization provide a slight edge.

Street Photography: Discreetness and Portability

Both cameras excel due to ultracompact size and quiet operation. Samsung’s face detection could help when shooting people candidly.

Sony’s wider angle lens starts at 28 mm, a perfect focal length for street scenes, letting you capture context-rich images. Combined with its marginally better low-light and stabilization, Sony is better suited for this genre.

Macro Photography

Both cameras allow focusing down to 5 cm, delivering respectable macro shots of flowers or small objects.

Sony’s higher resolution sensor means more detail in close-ups, while Samsung’s slightly faster lens aperture at close range helps a bit in lower light.

Night and Astro Photography

The Sony W310’s 1-second minimum shutter speed and sensor-shift stabilization enable slow shutter handheld shots that the Samsung’s max 16s shutter and no stabilization can’t match comfortably.

Neither camera offers manual exposure controls or raw shooting, limiting astrophotography potential.

Video Usage

Sony W310 edges out with sensor-shift stabilization for smoother handheld video. Both are limited to VGA 640x480 resolution, suitable only for casual, low-res clips.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

Both cameras are easy to carry due to size and weight.

Sony’s broader lens zoom and image stabilization make for a more versatile travel companion, especially in varied lighting conditions. USB connectivity eases on-the-go image transfer.

Professional Work and Workflow Integration

Neither camera supports RAW, neither offers advanced exposure modes or tethering options, and both have limited connectivity.

For professional use requiring high control, speed, or image quality, neither camera suffices beyond casual or backup photography.

Sample Images from Both Cameras

Samsung CL5 front Samsung CL5 screen back Sony W310 screen back

Here are example photos taken side-by-side under identical conditions. You can see the Sony W310’s images exhibit finer details and richer colors. Samsung CL5 shots appear softer and slightly noisier at higher ISO.

Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

Overall Performance Ratings

The Sony W310 generally scores higher across key photography metrics including autofocus precision, image quality, stabilization, and versatility.

Performance by Photography Genre

Sony W310 leads especially in street, travel, and low-light genres. Samsung CL5 remains competitive for casual portraits and indoor snaps.

Making Your Choice: Which Ultracompact Should You Choose?

• If you want the simplest camera with face detection and basic ease of use: Samsung CL5 offers a no-frills experience, solid for casual snapshots and beginners who want point-and-shoot simplicity.

• If image quality, low-light shooting, and versatility across genres matter most: Sony W310’s superior sensor, stabilization, wider zoom, and USB connectivity make it the better all-rounder.

• Budget-conscious buyers: Sony is often found at a lower price point, making it an excellent value.

• Enthusiasts and learners seeking more control and quality in a compact: Though ultracompacts don’t offer extensive manual controls, the Sony’s technical advantages provide a better foundation to grow photography skills.

Final Thoughts

Both the Samsung CL5 and Sony Cyber-shot W310 represent a generation of ultracompact cameras designed for straightforward photography without complexity or bulk. Yet subtle advancements in sensor size, image stabilization, and lens breadth on the Sony W310 deliver meaningful differences that affect everyday shooting enjoyment and results.

For anyone serious about photographic quality within a compact frame, the Sony W310 stands out as the superior choice, especially considering its handling across portrait, landscape, and travel photography.

We encourage you to handle both models if possible, paying attention to which operation style feels most intuitive to you. Supplementing unrestricted experimentation with accessories like extra memory cards and camera cases will enhance your experience with either camera.

Your photographic journey deserves the right tool. Choosing thoughtfully between the Samsung CL5 and Sony W310 helps set you up for creative fulfillment every time you capture the world around you.

Get started shooting with confidence!

By bringing hands-on insights and thorough technical comparisons, this review aims to empower your camera decision grounded in real-world performance and practical value.