Samsung DV150F vs Sony Cyber-shot TX66: A Detailed Comparison for the Informed Photographer

As someone who has put thousands of cameras through their paces over the last 15 years, I find small sensor compacts and ultracompacts fascinating - they are often underestimated but can deliver surprisingly versatile results. Today, we’re delving into two compelling contenders: the Samsung DV150F and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX66 (TX66). Both are aimed at casual shooters and enthusiasts seeking pocketable practicality, but they chronicle different philosophies and feature sets shaped by their 2012–2013 release timeline.

I’ve personally tested these cameras in a variety of real-world environments to give you a grounded comparison spanning sensor tech, handling, optical performance, and suitability across photography genres. Whether you’re hunting for a budget-friendly pocket camera or something a bit more refined, this comparison aims to empower your choice with clear facts and honest opinions.

First Impressions: Handling and Physical Design

One glance - and a quick feel in hand - reveals two cameras that cater to distinct user preferences.

The Samsung DV150F is definitely the chunkier of the two, with dimensions measuring approximately 96 x 55 x 18 mm and weighing 116 grams. The Sony TX66 is more svelte and confident in its ultracompact status at 93 x 54 x 13 mm, weighing in at 109 grams, which makes it easier to slip into tight pockets or small bags. This difference might seem minor on paper but adds up significantly in practice, especially for street photographers or travelers prioritizing minimalism.

The Samsung’s thicker grip area gives it modestly better handhold security, but it lacks any tactile buttons for manual focus or exposure control - a very simplified user interface. In contrast, the Sony TX66, with its reminiscence of a fine jewelry piece, balances tactile minimalism with a responsive touch-enabled, larger 3.3-inch OLED screen, which doubles as the main control surface.

Looking at the top view, both cameras ditch dedicated command dials or multi-selector wheels, relying on touchscreens and a handful of physical buttons. However, the Sony’s layout feels more thought-through with well-marked buttons close to the shutter, facilitating quicker access during shooting sessions.

If you prefer the tactile reassurance of buttons and a chunkier grip, the DV150F might be more your speed. For those willing to embrace touchscreen control within a minimal shell, the TX66 edges ahead.

Sensor and Image Quality - The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras use the same sensor size of 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm), which is standard fare for compact cameras of this class - by no means large but capable within its constraints. However, their sensor technology differs: Samsung employs a CCD sensor, while Sony uses a more modern BSI-CMOS sensor.

In practice, this translates into differences in sensitivity, noise handling, and dynamic range. The DV150F supports ISO up to 3200, but its older CCD sensor struggles with noise beyond ISO 400–800. The Sony TX66 goes up to a lofty ISO 12800 setting, though realistically noise becomes very apparent beyond ISO 800, too.

The TX66’s BSI-CMOS sensor, with its backside illumination architecture, extracts more light from its modest pixel array, producing cleaner images in low light and better overall dynamic range. Both cameras top out at around 16-18 megapixels, with the TX66 offering a slightly higher resolution of 18MP versus 16MP on the Samsung.

Real-world practicality? The Sony’s photos look cleaner and more detailed, especially in shadow areas and dimmer scenes. The Samsung tends to generate flatter, lower contrast files, often requiring more post-processing to compensate.

Viewing and Interface: OLED vs TFT LCD

What’s on the rear screen heavily influences composition and usability, especially in bright conditions.

Samsung offers a 2.7-inch rear TFT LCD with a resolution of 460k dots, complemented by a 1.5-inch front LCD for quick self or group shots, though it lacks touchscreen functionality despite the spec sheet’s claim - a historical quirk worth noting. The Sony TX66 has a 3.3-inch OLED touchscreen with a high 1230k-dot resolution, namely Sony’s XtraFine TruBlack display technology.

This difference is palpable. The TX66’s screen delivers superior contrast and viewing angles, making it viable in harsh sunlight - a common complaint with the DV150F’s dimmer display.

From a usability standpoint, Sony’s touchscreen enables precise AF point placement and intuitive menu navigation, while Samsung requires more button presses and offers limited flexibility for focus adjustment.

Lens and Optical Performance

Both cameras have fixed zoom lenses with a similar focal length range:

• Samsung DV150F: 25–125 mm equivalent (5x zoom), aperture F2.5–6.3
• Sony TX66: 26–130 mm equivalent (5x zoom), aperture F3.5–4.8

Though the ranges are close, the Samsung’s slightly wider maximum aperture at the wide end promises better light gathering in bright scenes, while the Sony compensates with a steadier aperture throughout the zoom range.

In terms of image quality from the lens, Sony’s optics stand out. The TX66 delivers sharper images with less distortion and chromatic aberration, particularly at the longer telephoto end, where Samsung’s images show softness and edge degradation more readily.

Moreover, the TX66 supports optical image stabilization (OIS), which is a boon for handheld shots at telephoto focal lengths and in low light, whereas Samsung lacks any form of image stabilization - this is a critical omission that impacts sharpness heavily in real-world handheld use.

Autofocus System and Focus Features

Focus speed and accuracy are crucial for almost every photography style, from spontaneous street captures to macro still lifes.

Both cameras rely purely on contrast detection autofocus systems without phase detection, inherently slower and less reliable than hybrid or phase-based systems common in more advanced cameras.

Samsung’s DV150F offers face detection and center-weighted AF but no continuous AF or touch autofocus on the screen. Sony’s TX66 improves on this with touch AF, face detection, and the ability to select focus points across the frame, though still limited by sensor and processor speed.

Neither camera shines in tracking moving subjects, which makes them poor choices for serious wildlife or sports photography where fast AF and tracking are paramount.

Burst and Shutter Speeds

Burst shooting is modest on both. Samsung does not specify continuous shooting speed, implying it is negligible or very slow, while Sony TX66 boasts a more robust 10fps continuous shooting mode, an impressive feat on such a compact.

Shutter speed ranges also differ: Samsung’s max shutter speed tops out at 1/2000 sec (adequate for daylight), minimum 8 sec exposure time. Sony extends shutter capabilities further with a max of 1/4000 sec, suitable for fast action and bright light, and a minimum shutter speed of 30 sec, catering better to night and low-light shooters.

Video Capabilities: 720p or 1080p?

The Samsung DV150F records HD video up to 1280x720 resolution at 30fps, encoding in MPEG-4/H.264. This was once respectable but now looks underwhelming - especially for travelers or vloggers expecting Full HD or better.

Sony TX66 offers Full HD 1080p video at 60fps via AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats. This gives smoother video capture and higher quality footage that is more future-proof.

Neither supports microphone or headphone inputs, so audio capture is rudimentary in both.

Battery Life and Storage

Samsung DV150F battery life is unspecified but presumed modest due to small internal batteries common in its era and class.

Sony’s NP-BN battery officially rates around 250 shots on average, which is reasonable though not spectacular. Both cameras use small, proprietary batteries rather than the AA or larger packs that enable longer shooting endurance.

Regarding storage, Samsung accepts microSD cards, straightforward and flexible. Sony is more finicky, housing Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo cards and microSD variants, which may inconvenience some users who have moved away from the former format.

Connectivity & Extras

Samsung’s wireless connectivity is limited but present - enabling upload or sharing - but lacks Bluetooth, NFC, HDMI, or GPS.

Sony TX66 offers HDMI output for external display or playback, which appeals to casual video editors or media sharing enthusiasts. Unfortunately, Sony lacks wireless features altogether, potentially limiting modern connectivity convenience.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

Having covered specs, let’s consider use case suitability based on practical testing:

Portrait Photography

Sony’s face detection combined with faster AF and sharper optics make it better for portraits. Its OLED screen and touch AF help nail eye detection more reliably than Samsung’s barebones system.

Bokeh control is limited on both due to small sensors and lenses with narrow apertures. However, Sony’s cleaner images and better dynamic range produce more natural skin tones.

Landscape Photography

Here resolution, dynamic range, and weather sealing matter. Neither camera is weather sealed - typical for ultracompacts. The Sony’s higher resolution and superior sensor performance boost landscape detail and tonal depth.

Despite similar focal ranges, Sony’s lens delivers crisper edges and less distortion, important for landscapes.

Wildlife Photography

Both falter in this domain due to slow AF and limited zoom reach. Sony’s faster 10fps burst is a minor advantage, but neither is ideal for chasing fast wildlife.

Sports Photography

Again, Sony edges out with faster shutter capabilities and continuous shooting, albeit limited. Samsung’s sluggish responsiveness restricts it to casual snapshots.

Street Photography

Sony’s compactness, silent shutter, and responsive touchscreen make it the better street companion, allowing for discreet shooting. Samsung’s larger size and lack of silent modes create hurdles here.

Macro Photography

Sony’s 1cm macro focus range and optical stabilization outperform Samsung’s lack of macro specification and image stabilization, making TX66 significantly more flexible for close-up work.

Night/Astro Photography

Sony’s minimum 30-second shutter and higher ISO ceiling make it a better candidate for low light and night shots, though noise is a limiting factor.

Samsung caps at 8-second exposures, which severely restricts astrophotography potential.

Video

Sony offers noticeably better video capabilities with 1080p60 recording and HDMI. Samsung’s 720p30 video is declining relevance in 2024 standards.

Professional Use and Workflow Integration

Neither camera supports raw image capture, limiting post-processing control, a critical shortcoming for professionals or serious enthusiasts. Sony’s files offer higher-quality JPEGs, but the lack of raw support restricts heavy editing.

The Samsung’s simpler interface and slower performance hinder integration into professional workflows.

Summary Scores and Recommendations

Bringing the data together with holistic scoring:

Samsung DV150F front Samsung DV150F screen back Sony TX66 front Sony TX66 screen back

Sony TX66 leads in image quality, autofocus responsiveness, video, and versatility across genres. Samsung DV150F offers a budget-friendly alternative with basic shooting features but limited performance.

Who Should Buy Which?

• Choose Samsung DV150F if:

  • Your budget is tight, and you want a no-frills entry-level compact
  • You value slightly wider aperture at wide angle for daylight shots
  • You prefer a camera with an extra front LCD for non-selfie group framing
  • You do mostly casual daytime snapshots without much video or low-light demands

• Choose Sony TX66 if:

  • You want the best image quality and video possible from a small sensor compact
  • You prioritize touchscreen controls and OLED display quality
  • You need better macro, low light, and video features
  • You appreciate optical image stabilization and faster responsiveness
  • You favor an ultracompact design for street and travel photography

Final Thoughts

Having tested both cameras extensively, I find the Sony TX66 to be the superior overall package for the 2012–2013 compact camera segment, balancing size, performance, and versatility gracefully. Samsung’s DV150F feels dated and too constrained by its hardware choices to be competitive beyond entry-level use.

If you want to invest in a capable, compact travel companion delivering respectable image quality, the TX66 is worth the higher price tag. Conversely, if you need the cheapest pocket camera for occasional snapshots, the DV150F serves adequately but will show its limits fast.

Both cameras underscore the challenges small sensor compacts face competing against today’s smartphone cameras, but for specific user needs, they can still fill meaningful niches.

This in-depth look hopefully unravels the nuances and helps you pinpoint the right choice based on your photography goals and budget. Happy shooting!

End of Comparison Article