Samsung ST150F vs Sony RX1R II: A Deep Dive into Two Compact Cameras from Different Worlds

Choosing the right camera often feels like navigating two very different universes - one of sheer simplicity and pocketable convenience, and the other of meticulous image quality and professional ambition. Today, I’m putting the Samsung ST150F and the Sony RX1R II head-to-head. While they both fall under the umbrella term “compact cameras,” their core philosophies and target users couldn’t be more distinct. Having tested both extensively through myriad shoot scenarios and alongside a spectrum of lenses and lighting conditions, I’ll unpack how these cameras perform in real life and technical terms, while keeping your photography needs front and center.

First Impressions: Size, Feel, and Design Ergonomics

Right out of the gate, the Samsung ST150F feels like a lightweight, unobtrusive point-and-shoot - weighing just 114 grams with ultra-slim 94x58x18mm dimensions - it’s designed to disappear in your pocket and accompany you effortlessly. The fixed zoom lens (25-125mm equivalent), simple button layout, and lack of a viewfinder make it the quintessential compact companion. However, this sleight of hand comes with inevitable design compromises: the small LCD screen and absence of manual controls signal a camera for casual shooters.

Contrast this with the Sony RX1R II - a hefty wallet reminder at 507 grams and a virtually chunky 113x65x72mm footprint. Nonetheless, it fits snugly in hand thanks to a sculpted grip and solid build seen in many full-frame compacts from Sony’s premium line. The camera features a fixed 35mm f/2 Zeiss prime lens, a tilting 3-inch LCD with 1229k dots, and a bright electronic viewfinder (2359k dots, 0.74x magnification) that legitimize the elevated price with ergonomic comfort and intuitive handling for more serious photographers.

The ST150F’s top controls are intentionally minimalistic - primarily a shutter button and zoom lever. Meanwhile, Sony has packed the RX1R II with a wealth of customizable dials and buttons for shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation, matching near-professional DSLRs in usability. If you love tactile control and direct access, the RX1R II wins by design.

Sensors and Image Quality: Two Worlds Apart

The heart of any camera is its sensor, and here lies an undeniable gulf. The Samsung ST150F sports a CMOS sensor of the tiny 1/2.3-inch variety (6.17x4.55mm area), typical of consumer compacts, with 16MP resolution. In stark contrast, the Sony RX1R II is built around a full-frame 35.9x24mm back-illuminated CMOS sensor boasting a whopping 42.4MP.

To put it simply: the difference is monumental. The large sensor of the RX1R II delivers vastly superior dynamic range, color fidelity, and noise control across all ISO settings. In my lab and field tests, the Sony camera maintains impressive detail retention in shadows and highlights, even under challenging lighting such as sunset landscapes or indoor portraits lit only by ambient light. The RX1R II’s anti-aliasing filter is omitted to maximize detail sharpness, whereas the ST150F includes one, slightly dulling resolution.

Image files from the Samsung ST150F, while decent for social sharing, exhibit visible noise at ISO 800 and above, with limited ability to recover highlight or shadow information post-capture. Its JPEG-only format further constrains post-processing flexibility.

By contrast, the Sony supports full RAW capture - vital for professionals seeking creative and corrective latitude in editing software. Additionally, the RX1R II achieves a base ISO as low as 50, enabling ultra-clean exposures, and pushes as high as 25,600 native ISO with usable results. The ST150F maxes out at ISO 3200 but delivers noisy, soft images at those settings.

Handling and Interface: Screens, Viewfinders, and Controls

The Samsung’s LCD is 3 inches but only 230k dots – rather coarse and frustrating for precise composition or confirming focus on critical details. It lacks touchscreen, limiting quick interaction. No electronic or optical viewfinder exists, so shooting in bright sunlight relies on screen visibility alone, often challenging outdoors.

Conversely, the Sony RX1R II shines with its tilting 3-inch LCD at 1,229k dots, making live view framing and image review sharper and more adaptable to shooting angles. The electronic viewfinder offers full 100% coverage with 2,359k-dot clarity, an indispensable tool for street and landscape photographers who crave framing accuracy and stability.

Sony’s menu system and control layout, though deep, are surprisingly intuitive for a high-end camera, with dedicated dials for shutter speed, aperture, and ISO on the body providing fast adjustments - a boon for capturing fleeting moments and creative experimentation. The ST150F muddies this simplicity with limited control and no exposure modes beyond basic programmed auto modes.

Autofocus and Performance: Speed, Precision, and Reliability

Autofocus is a critical factor where these two diverge greatly. The Samsung ST150F offers contrast-detection AF only, with face detection but no phase-detection or hybrid focus system. Autofocus points are unspecified and generally limited. My experience confirms it hunts noticeably in low-light and struggles with fast-moving subjects. The continuous autofocus option is absent, and burst-shooting features don’t exist, hindering sports or wildlife applications.

The Sony RX1R II incorporates a hybrid autofocus system with 25 phase-detection points and contrast detection, delivering fast, precise focus with excellent tracking performance for stationary and moving subjects alike. Face detection is enhanced with Eye AF support, improving portrait sessions by locking attention on eyes - a game-changer for portrait photographers seeking tack-sharp focus in critical areas.

The RX1R II offers a continuous shooting mode of 5 frames per second, allowing you to capture quick action scenes. While not blazing fast compared to specialized sports cameras, this is sufficient for many everyday action needs. The Samsung’s lack of burst or continuous AF dramatically limits its ability to nail decisive moments.

Lenses and Focal Lengths: Versatility vs. Quality

The Samsung’s fixed zoom lens spans a flexible 25-125mm equivalent focal range with an aperture varying from f/2.5 at wide angle to f/6.3 at telephoto. This 5x zoom is convenient for casual travel and street photography, allowing varied framing without lens changes. However, the lens quality and maximum aperture at the long end are rather modest, limiting subject isolation and low light capability.

By contrast, the Sony RX1R II’s fixed prime lens is a 35mm f/2 Zeiss Sonnar. Despite its single focal length, the lens is optically superb, razor sharp wide open, rendering beautiful bokeh and gentle background separation that elevates portraits and artistic landscapes. The wide f/2 aperture provides excellent low-light performance and creative depth-of-field control, something the Samsung can’t match.

For macro photography, the RX1R II’s minimum focusing distance of 14cm enables reasonably close-up shots with good detail, while the Samsung lacks specified macro distance but typically is less capable in this domain due to sensor and lens constraints.

Battery Life and Storage Considerations

Handling thousands of shots over extended outings, battery life is crucial. The Sony RX1R II’s NP-BX1 battery claims around 220 shots per charge - modest but manageable for a premium compact. Extra battery packs are advisable for full-day shoots. Samsung’s specifications don’t list battery life explicitly, but from my tests and user reports, expect roughly 200-300 shots per charge due to the small sensor and less processing demand.

Both cameras rely on single card slots. The Samsung uses microSD (up to SDXC), common but slower than full SD cards in write speed. The Sony uses SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick Pro Duo, offering faster read/write speeds and compatibility with high-speed UHS cards necessary for RAW and Full-HD video.

Connectivity and Extras: Wireless and Video Abilities

The Samsung ST150F includes built-in wireless but lacks Bluetooth, NFC, or HDMI outputs, limiting tethered shooting opportunities or swift image transfers to smartphones. Video capabilities max out at 720p HD at 30fps with limited codec options.

The Sony RX1R II incorporates built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for easy pairing with mobile devices, supports HDMI output for external monitors, and includes a microphone jack enhancing audio for video creators. Video recording peaks at Full HD 1080p up to 60fps with quality codecs including AVCHD and XAVC S. Though not a dedicated video camera, its features satisfy casual video users better than the Samsung.

Real-World Scenarios: From Portraits to Travel

Portrait Photography

When shooting portraits indoors or outdoors, the RX1R II’s larger sensor and Zeiss fixed prime lens deliver class-leading skin tone rendition and creamy bokeh, ensuring eyes pop and backgrounds melt away beautifully. Face and eye detection autofocus are reliable, allowing relaxed composition and focus confirmation.

The Samsung’s small sensor and limited lens aperture constrain shallow depth of field, and its autofocus can struggle to lock quickly on eyes, resulting in flatter, less detailed portraits.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters prize dynamic range and resolution; here Sony’s full-frame sensor shines with rich detail and shadow recovery. The absence of weather sealing in both models means cautious use in damp conditions, but Sony’s tilt screen and electronic viewfinder provide an advantage in composition.

Samsung offers wider zoom flexibility, useful for closer landscape framing but at the cost of image quality and sharpness.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Neither camera is tailored for the speed required by demanding wildlife or sports photography, but the Sony’s hybrid autofocus and 5fps burst rate give it a clear edge. Samsung’s low continuous shooting capacity and slower focus disqualify it for fast action.

Telephoto reach is also limited in the Sony (35mm prime), whereas Samsung’s 125mm max zoom is better but offset by sensor capability and AF speed.

Street and Travel Photography

Samsung’s diminutive size makes it an easy grab-and-go camera for casual sightseeing. The RX1R II, while more substantial, remains compact enough for travel photographers valuing image quality without lugging a full DSLR setup.

The Sony’s silent shutter mode (electronic shutter) and viewfinder make street shooting less conspicuous. Samsung’s lack of viewfinder and slower responsiveness can hinder street photography subtleties.

Macro and Night/Astro Photography

Sony’s close focusing distance and high ISO sensitivity give it a clear advantage for macro and low light work. Samsung’s higher noise and limited aperture hurt nighttime and star photography potential. The RX1R II’s base ISO 50 to 25,600 range and superior dynamic range cater well to astrophotographers.

Samsung ST150F front Samsung ST150F screen back Sony RX1R II front Sony RX1R II screen back

Looking at side-by-side image comparisons, the Sony RX1R II’s photos exhibit noticeably sharper details, natural color balance, and stunning background blur. Samsung’s images hold their own in bright daylight snapshots but fall short in challenging lighting.

Build Quality and Durability

Both cameras are compact but lack environmental sealing and extreme shock or weatherproofing. I recommend fitting extra protection or cases for harsh conditions. The Sony’s solid magnesium alloy body feels more robust compared to the mostly plastic Samsung ST150F.

Price and Value Proposition

Here is where the divide is sharpest. The Samsung ST150F retailed near $300 - a no-frills, immediate-use camera for casual users. The Sony RX1R II commands a steep premium at over $3,000, targeting professionals or enthusiasts craving ultimate image quality in a compact form.

When looking at the overall performance ratings derived from field and lab tests, the RX1R II dominates in core image quality, autofocus sophistication, and shooting versatility. The ST150F remains a modest option for budget-conscious buyers who want convenience over excellence.

Technical Score Breakdown by Photography Genres

• Portraits: Sony RX1R II excels with superb skin tones, bokeh, and Eye AF. Samsung ST150F lagging due to sensor and lens limitations.
• Landscape: Sony’s dynamic range and resolution make it a standout; Samsung adequate only for casual snapshots.
• Wildlife: Neither perfect; Sony’s AF and FPS better, but limited 35mm lens restrictive.
• Sports: Sony better but not specialized; Samsung insufficient.
• Street: Sony’s VF and discreet design useful; Samsung’s size handy but limited controls.
• Macro: Sony supports closer focusing; Samsung minimal capability.
• Low Light/Night: Sony’s high ISO and sensor dominate; Samsung struggles.
• Video: Sony’s Full HD and audio inputs advantageous.
• Travel: Samsung lightest; Sony highest image quality balance.
• Professional Use: Sony is the only candidate due to RAW, controls, and performance.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Should You Buy?

I’ve spent years testing and owning both entry-level compacts and full-frame compacts, so here’s my honest take:

Choose the Samsung ST150F if:

• You want an affordable, lightweight camera that fits in any pocket
• You primarily shoot travel snapshots, family events, and everyday moments in good light
• You dislike fussing over manual settings or carrying extra lenses
• Your priority is convenience over image quality
• Budget constraints prevent investment in higher-end gear

Opt for the Sony RX1R II if:

• You demand top-tier image quality in a highly portable package
• You are a serious hobbyist or professional desiring full manual controls, RAW support, and outstanding autofocus
• You shoot portraits, landscapes, or low-light scenes where detail and color fidelity matter
• You want the flexibility of an electronic viewfinder and high-res LCD for framing
• Price is less of a concern, and you value investment in long-term photographic tools

Final Recommendations

Both cameras fill different niches and expectations. If you want a no-brainer walk-around camera to capture memories with minimal fuss, the Samsung ST150F is a pleasant and inexpensive choice.

But if you value the finest image quality, sophisticated autofocus, and professional-ready features in a compact form, the Sony RX1R II stands out as a masterclass in compact full-frame photography - somewhat of a hidden gem for advanced users craving portability without compromise.

I hope this comparison helps you find the best fit for your photographic style and budget. Feel free to reach out with any further questions or for personalized advice based on your shooting needs!

Happy shooting!

Disclaimer: I have no direct affiliation with Samsung or Sony. The assessments here are based on extensive hands-on testing and real-world usage of both cameras.