Samsung PL170 vs Sony WX9

Samsung PL170 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX9: A Detailed Ultracompact Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

In the ever-evolving realm of ultracompact cameras, two contenders from early 2011 - the Samsung PL170 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX9 - offer intriguing contrasts in feature sets and practical usability. While both target the casual to enthusiast segment seeking pocket-friendly devices, their technological approaches and real-world performance differ in noteworthy ways. Drawing from extensive side-by-side hands-on testing, sensor analysis, and ergonomic evaluation, this detailed comparison seeks to clarify which camera better caters to diverse photographic disciplines, from portraits to travel and video work, empowering you to make an informed buyer decision grounded in experience and technical insight.

First Impressions: Design, Handling, and Build Quality

Size and Ergonomics: Compactness vs Control

Both cameras fall into the ultracompact category, emphasizing portability with modest physical footprints designed for effortless handling in casual and travel scenarios. The Samsung PL170 measures 95 x 57 x 19 mm, while the Sony WX9 is marginally thicker at 95 x 56 x 20 mm. This near parity positions both as ideal for pocket carry; however, subtle design choices impact user interaction.

The PL170 sports a smooth, minimalist shell lacking pronounced grip contours, which can feel somewhat slippery during extended use. Sony’s WX9 adds a slight raised thumb rest on the rear and provides better tactile button spacing, promoting confidence in one-handed operation - especially critical when shooting street or wildlife subjects where quick composure matters.

Above all, the Sony excels in overall build finesse with a slightly more robust chassis despite a similar plastic construction. Neither model is weather-sealed, a limitation that influences landscape or adventure photographers who require greater environmental resilience.

Control Layout and Top View Considerations

Shifting perspective to the top view, control layout fundamentally shapes workflow efficiency by lessoning fumbling with menus or buttons in critical capture moments.

The WX9's design features clearly marked dials and buttons, including a dedicated zoom rocker and a shutter release encircled by zoom control - intuitive for rapid framing changes. The addition of an on/off button on the top plate is ergonomically placed for ease of reach.

By contrast, the PL170’s top controls appear less thoughtfully arranged, with smaller buttons and no physical zoom lever - zoom functionality is toggled via a rear control, potentially hampering speedy focus adjustments for moving subjects.

In summary, from a handling and operational standpoint, the Sony WX9 offers a more user-friendly experience tailored to photographers valuing responsiveness and reliability in their interface.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality Dynamics

An essential determinant of photographic output quality lies in the sensor - the heart of the camera. Both devices utilize 1/2.3" sensors, the industry norm for ultracompacts, yet diverge in sensor type and processing technology.

• Samsung PL170: Equipped with a 16 MP CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm (27.72 mm² area). CCD sensors historically excel in color rendition and low-noise performance at base ISOs but often fall short in high ISO sensitivity and heat management.

• Sony WX9: Features a 16 MP BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) sensor slightly larger at 6.17 x 4.55 mm (28.07 mm²), benefitting from newer sensor architecture that enhances low-light performance by improving photon capture efficiency and reducing noise at higher sensitivities.

Image Resolution and Quality

Both cameras yield a maximum image size of 4608 x 3456 pixels with an anti-aliasing filter present - a standard trait that prevents moiré patterns but slightly reduces image sharpness.

The Sony’s CMOS sensor combined with its BIONZ image processor affords higher-quality JPEG output, especially in challenging lighting, thanks to superior ISO noise control and more effective dynamic range management compared to Samsung’s CCD.

Measured across real-world scenarios, images from the WX9 demonstrate richer shadow detail retention and smoother gradients, critical for landscape and portrait photographers demanding natural tonal transitions.

To highlight differences between color depth and dynamic range may not be quantified explicitly here (neither tested by DxOmark), yet consistent practical tests reveal the WX9 reliably outperforms the PL170 at ISO 800 and above, offering cleaner, usable noise levels and improved highlight preservation.

LCD Screen and User Interface: Viewing and Composing Essentials

Display technology and resolution significantly influence composition accuracy and menu navigation.

Both cameras employ fixed 3-inch rear LCD screens; however, resolution sets them apart sharply. The PL170 delivers 230,000 dots - a modest count even for its era - resulting in somewhat grainy previews and less precise focus checking.

In contrast, the WX9’s "XtraFine" LCD boasts 921,000 dots, nearly quadrupling pixel density. This increase ensures crisp, vibrant playback and empowers photographers to verify image sharpness and exposure fidelity in the field more confidently.

Although both cameras lack touchscreens and electronic viewfinders, the WX9 compensates with a more navigable menu system and superior live view responsiveness owing to its faster processor - a critical advantage if manual focus options are absent.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Speed, Precision, and Accuracy

Focusing System Overview

Neither camera offers manual focusing, aligning with their target casual user markets. However, autofocus (AF) mechanisms differ meaningfully:

• Samsung PL170: Lacks contrast or phase detection AF capabilities - reportedly offers center-weighted focus only, with no continuous, face, animal eye, or live view AF tracking features. This simplistic contrast-detection means slower, less precise AF with a tendency to hunt, especially in low contrast or low light.

• Sony WX9: Incorporates a 9-point contrast detection AF with multiarea autofocus modes and support for face detection. While it does not offer advanced tracking (animal eye, subject tracking), this system is notably faster and more reliable in maintaining focus on stationary or moderately moving subjects.

Burst shooting rates underscore practical performance differences:

• The WX9 supports continuous shooting up to 10 FPS (frames per second), beneficial for sports or wildlife enthusiasts capturing fleeting moments.

• The PL170 does not specify continuous shooting speed, indicative of limited burst capabilities, restricting its utility in action photography.

Thus, the Sony WX9 emerges as the superior tool for autofocus-dependent genres such as wildlife, sports, and street photography, where speed and accuracy are paramount.

Lens Characteristics and Optical Performance

Both models feature non-removable zoom lens assemblies typical in this category but diverge in focal length range, aperture, and macro capabilities.

• Samsung PL170: Fixed lens, unspecified focal range; reports suggest a 5.9x equivalence multiplier but lack detailed zoom specs, and no dedicated macro focus range available.

• Sony WX9: 25-125 mm equivalent focal length (5x optical zoom), with an aperture from F2.6 (wide) to F6.3 (tele), providing versatility from standard wide-angle for landscapes to mild telephoto for portraits and some wildlife.

Furthermore, the WX9 supports macro focusing down to 5 cm, enhancing creativity in close-up shots, a feature the Samsung model lacks.

Optical stabilization is another highlight exclusive to the WX9. Its Optical SteadyShot (OSS) system effectively counters hand shakiness, increasing sharpness at slower shutter speeds and telephoto lengths. Conversely, the PL170 does not provide any image stabilization, posing challenges in low-light or zoomed-in shooting unless supported via external tripods.

Flash, ISO Range, and Exposure Flexibility

The ability to handle varying lighting environments critically affects camera usability.

• Flash:

  Both cameras house built-in flashes but with distinct characteristics:

  • PL170 includes a flash with unspecified range and modes, likely limited to auto and fill flash.

  • WX9 offers a flash range up to 5.3 meters with selectable modes: Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync. This provides photographers with greater creative control in fill-light or balanced night scenes.

• ISO Performance:

  Both sensors cap ISO at 3200 native sensitivity, yet the WX9’s sensor and processing deliver markedly better low-light image quality, including reduced noise and artifact presence.

• Exposure Options:

  Neither camera offers traditional manual, aperture priority, or shutter priority modes. The WX9 edges out slightly with white balance bracketing capabilities and custom white balance, aiding color accuracy in complex lighting - a feature missing on the PL170.

Neither camera supports exposure bracketing, limiting creative flexibility for HDR imaging, or challenging light scenarios.

Video Capabilities: Resolution, Frame Rates, and Formats

Video is a crucial dimension for many users now seeking multipurpose devices.

• Samsung PL170: Offers HD video recording at 1280 x 720 (720p), no mention of frame rate or file format, and lacks microphone input or advanced recording settings.

• Sony WX9: Provides full HD 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 60 fps, 1440 x 1080 at 30 fps, and 720p at 30 fps, significantly enhancing video smoothness and quality. It records in MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats, with HDMI output for external monitoring or playback.

Neither camera supports 4K or advanced video features such as manual exposure control during recording or external microphone input, limiting professional video applications.

Connectivity, Storage, and Ergonomics for Workflow Integration

When reviewing ultracompacts, connectivity and workflow compatibility often play a supporting role but remain noteworthy.

• Storage:

  • PL170’s storage type is not clearly specified, likely using standard SD cards, with a single slot, which is typical.

  • WX9 supports various card formats, including SD/SDHC/SDXC and Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick formats, providing versatile and widely available storage options.

• Connectivity:

  • The PL170 lacks wireless or wired data transfer capabilities entirely.

  • WX9 integrates "Eye-Fi Connected" wireless support (Eye-Fi cards enable Wi-Fi file transfer), as well as a USB 2.0 port for data transfer and an HDMI output for external display.

These capabilities render the WX9 more conducive to efficient digital workflows and convenient image sharing.

• Battery:

  Detailed battery life is unspecified for both, but anecdotal tests suggest similar endurance due to comparable body size and power requirements.

Real-World Photography Performance: Genre-Specific Assessments

Photographers’ needs vary markedly by genre, so evaluating each camera’s suitability across diverse use cases helps contextualize performance.

Samsung PL170 front Samsung PL170 screen back Sony WX9 screen back

Portrait Photography

Emphasizing skin tone fidelity, smooth bokeh, and eye detection:

• WX9’s wider wide-aperture (F2.6) and higher zoom range allow more creative framing with pleasing background blur. However, the small sensor limits true bokeh potential.

• Its autofocus with face detection supports sharp focusing on eyes.

• The PL170 without face detection requires more manual composition care; color output is decent but with harsher contrast.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range, resolution, and weather sealing are critical:

• Both cameras have equal resolution (16 MP) but the WX9’s better sensor technology yields improved dynamic range capture.

• Neither camera is weather sealed; use caution outdoors.

• The WX9’s wider angle lens equivalent (25mm) is better for broad landscapes compared to the unspecified range of the PL170.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

AF speed, burst rate, telephoto reach matter most:

• The WX9’s notable 10 FPS burst rate and reliable autofocus significantly outperform the PL170, which lacks meaningful continuous shooting or accurate focusing capabilities.

• WX9’s 125 mm telephoto equivalent is reasonable for close wildlife shots or sports; the PL170's limited zoom constrains distant subjects.

Street Photography

Discretion, speed, and portability:

• Both cameras’ compact size works well for candid shooting.

• Sony WX9’s rapid AF and burst shooting support capturing spontaneous moments better.

• The PL170’s slower response and absence of face detection reduce candid capture success rate.

Macro Photography

Focus precision and minimum focusing distance separate top contenders:

• WX9 shines with 5 cm macro focusing, allowing detailed close-ups of flora and objects.

• PL170 lacks macro function, constraining close subject versatility.

Night and Astro Photography

High ISO performance and long exposures:

• WX9’s CMOS sensor and stabilized lens enable cleaner images up to ISO 1600+ with optical stabilization allowing hand-held shooting in lower light.

• PL170’s CCD sensor lacks stabilization and noise handling suffers at higher ISO; long exposures max at 8 seconds but likely noisy and less reliable.

Video Shooting

The WX9 offers 1080p at 60fps, enabling smooth, high-definition recordings for multimedia users. Lack of external mic jacks limits sound control.

PL170’s HD video is limited to 720p with fewer frame rate options and no stabilization during video capture.

Travel and Everyday Photography

Weight, battery life, and versatility impact enjoyment:

• Both ultracompacts weigh roughly the same and fit pockets nicely.

• WX9’s superior zoom range, image stabilization, and better screen resolution make it ideal for travelers seeking an all-in-one solution.

• PL170 offers simpler operation but at cost to image and video quality.

Professional Use

Neither target professional workflows with RAW output or weather-sealing, but WX9’s file management options and file formats are more adaptable to semi-pro postprocessing.

Summary Ratings and Value Proposition

Both models cater to budget-conscious users desiring ultra-portable designs, but the Sony WX9 clearly commands an edge across practically every meaningful performance metric, reflected in superior sensor technology, faster and more accurate autofocus, higher-resolution screen, better video capabilities, and hands-on usability enhancements.

Final Recommendations: Which Camera Suits You Best?

• Choose the Samsung PL170 if you prioritize absolute simplicity, a lightweight ultracompact with very basic imaging needs, or find it compelling by price (often lower on resale), understanding trade-offs include limited zoom, no stabilization, and modest image quality.

• Choose the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX9 if you demand a more versatile ultracompact that performs well in diverse photographic genres - portraits, landscapes, travel, video - with advanced stabilization, rapid AF, excellent LCD for framing, and richer video formats. It offers better overall value for enthusiasts wanting a pocket camera that can reliably meet a range of real-world shooting demands.

Incorporating lessons from thousands of cameras tested across dozens of user scenarios, the WX9 stands as a clear recommendation especially for users seeking balance between portability and performance in early 2010s ultracompacts. While today’s market offers superior options, these models still hold appeal for collectors or casual photographers appreciating their ergonomic design and straightforward operation.

This comprehensive comparison underscores how seemingly similar ultracompact cameras can diverge significantly under practical use; making choices grounded in detailed analysis ensures your purchase aligns with your photographic goals and expectations.