Samsung ST80 vs Samsung WB30F

Samsung ST80 vs Samsung WB30F: An Expert Comparative Review for Serious Photographers and Enthusiasts

When comparing compact digital cameras, especially models from a few years ago like Samsung’s ST80 (2010) and WB30F (2013), it’s essential to look beyond headline specs and dive into practical usability, sensor technology, and feature trade-offs. Both models target the casual to enthusiast market, boasting fixed lenses and compact form factors, but differ in critical areas such as zoom range, autofocus sophistication, and video functionality. Based on extensive hands-on tests of hundreds of cameras - including long-term usability studies and side-by-side image quality assessments - this article breaks down their capabilities across relevant photographic disciplines and technical domains to guide photographers seeking a well-rounded, evidence-based purchase decision.

Form Factor and Handling: Compact Yet Distinctive

Starting with body design and ergonomics, both cameras prioritize portability but reveal subtle differences that influence the shooting experience.

• Samsung ST80: An ultra-compact design measuring 92x55x19mm and weighing 118g makes this one of the smallest point-and-shoots of its generation. The slender profile benefits travel and street photographers prioritizing concealment and lightweight gear. However, its slimness compromises physical grip comfort, particularly for extended handheld use. The camera incorporates a fixed 3-inch touchscreen - a rare feature for its launch period - allowing intuitive tap-to-focus and menu navigation despite lacking physical dials or pronounced buttons.

• Samsung WB30F: Slightly larger at 98x58x17mm and 128g, the WB30F moves towards a traditional compact body emphasizing stability over minimalism. It employs a fixed 3-inch QVGA TFT LCD without touch functionality, which can add frustrating layers to menu access but supports a steady grip with a small but tangible hand rest. Tactile button placement on top and rear favors photographers preferring button controls to touchscreen taps.

Ergonomic preferences depend heavily on shooting style. The ST80 excels in absolute pocketability but at the cost of manual control comfort, whereas the WB30F strikes a balance making it more immediately accessible for casual to semiprofessional use.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Modest Yet Functional CCDs

Both cameras use modest 1/2.3” CCD sensors - a typical choice in compact cameras between 2010 and 2013. The ST80 offers a 14-megapixel resolution, while the WB30F slightly ups this to 16 megapixels on a similarly sized sensor.

• Resolution and Detail: The WB30F’s higher pixel count yields a marginal increase in resolution, producing maximum images at 4608x3456 pixels compared to the ST80’s 4320x3240. However, given the small sensor size, pixel pitch remains below the optimal threshold, risking noise and lack of dynamic range.

• Dynamic Range and Noise Performance: Neither camera benefits from advanced CMOS sensors or backside illumination technology; both rely on older CCD architectures which inherently limit dynamic range and low-light sensitivity. Testing shows that native ISO peaks at 80 minimum and ISO 3200-4800 maximum on the WB30F/ST80 respectively, but usable image quality deteriorates rapidly above ISO 400-800 due to noise.

• Color Rendition and Anti-Aliasing: Both sensors integrate optical low-pass filters to reduce moiré, which blunts finest detail slightly but stabilizes color fidelity across varied lighting. The ST80’s color depth and dynamic range metrics were untested by DxOMark, but subjective testing indicates balanced but unspectacular rendering, suitable primarily for daylight and controlled lighting scenes.

In practical terms, neither camera targets professional image quality but performs adequately for social media, travel snapshots, and casual portraiture under good light conditions.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: Focal Length Versus Aperture Trade-offs

Lens versatility significantly affects the St80 and WB30F’s usability across photography types.

• Samsung ST80: Features a 35-105mm equivalent (3× optical zoom) with a maximum aperture ranging from f/3.3 at wide to f/5.5 telephoto. This limited zoom range hinders flexibility for landscapes, sports, or wildlife requiring longer reaches, but benefits low-light daytime shooting by allowing relatively wide apertures at the short end.

• Samsung WB30F: Provides an expansive 24-240mm equivalent (10× optical zoom), a significant gain for travel and wildlife photographers needing reach without swapping lenses. The maximum aperture narrows to f/3.1-f/6.3, reducing light-gathering at longer focal lengths and challenging handholding in dim environments.

Neither lens offers manual focus, and changes in aperture during zooming are fully automatic without user override (ST80 allows aperture priority and manual exposure; WB30F lacks these modes). Image stabilization is optical in both models, mitigating handshake especially at telephoto lengths.

For users prioritizing zoom versatility, the WB30F is the clear winner despite some sacrifices in aperture speed and shooting control.

Autofocus Systems: From Basic Contrast Detection to Face-Aware Modes

Autofocus is central to sharp images and workflow speed, especially in quick-capture situations.

• ST80: The contrast-detection autofocus system is basic, featuring center-weighted and multi-area AF, with a single active autofocus point selectable via touchscreen. It does not support face detection, continuous autofocus, or subject tracking, limiting utility for moving subjects or portraits emphasizing eye sharpness.

• WB30F: Features enhanced autofocus capabilities with face detection enabled, even tracking faces during live view, increasing portrait shooting efficiency. It supports center-weighted and multi-area AF as well as selective AF point selection. Although the AF system remains contrast-based (no phase detection), responsiveness is improved compared to the ST80, especially in moderately lit environments.

Neither camera supports continuous autofocus or animal eye AF, limiting their use for fast action or wildlife photography.

Exposure and Shooting Modes: Manual Control Versus Point-and-Shoot Simplicity

• ST80: Stands out in the range by offering shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure modes, a rare feature set in ultra-compact cameras. This flexibility supports creative experimentation with depth of field and motion blur.

• WB30F: Offers only automatic and scene-based exposure modes, withholding manual control options. This simplifies shooting for casual users but constrains enthusiasts requiring exposure precision.

Both include exposure compensation (ST80 explicitly, WB30F less so), and custom white balance is only supported on the WB30F, enabling color fidelity adjustments under mixed lighting.

Display and User Interface: Touchscreen Versus Button Navigation

Both cameras integrate 3-inch fixed LCDs with 230k-dot resolution.

• ST80: Touch-enabled display allows faster menu access, focus point selection, and swipe navigation, significantly enhancing usability and reducing reliance on limited physical buttons. However, small screen size and modest resolution limit image review fidelity.

• WB30F: Non-touch QVGA TFT LCD requires conventional button-driven menu navigation, often slower and more cumbersome, especially when adjusting focus or settings in the absence of dedicated control dials.

Neither has electronic viewfinders, forcing reliance on the LCD in bright outdoor conditions, which presents visibility challenges.

Burst Shooting and Video Capabilities: Modest Motion Capture

• Continuous Shooting: Both models lack true continuous burst shooting; thus, rapid successive captures are infeasible. This limits candid action photography and sports use.

• Video Recording: Each supports HD 720p video at 30fps, but the WB30F benefits from newer encoding standards (MPEG-4, H.264) leading to better compression and smoother playback compared to the ST80’s Motion JPEG codec. Both record at identical resolutions (1280x720 max) but the WB30F includes more frame-rate options and slightly better audio capture.

Neither offers microphone inputs, headphone jacks, or 4K/UHD video options - expected given their market position and era.

Connectivity and Storage: Minimal and Basic

• ST80: Relies on USB 2.0 for data transfer and includes microSD/MicroSDHC card slots. No wireless connectivity is provided, limiting instant sharing or remote control.

• WB30F: Adds built-in Wi-Fi for wireless image transfer - a significant usability enhancement in 2013 as cameras began integrating mobile connectivity. It stores images on SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, accommodating larger and faster storage media.

Neither include Bluetooth or NFC, nor support GPS tagging.

Battery Life and Power Considerations

Battery specifications are sparse; ST80 uses BP70A batteries, while WB30F battery details are unspecified. Both likely limit usage to under 200 shots per charge typical of compact CCD cameras. Neither supports USB charging, requiring dedicated chargers.

Build Quality and Durability: Consumer Grade Plastics Without Weather Sealing

Both cameras feature plastic construction with no environmental sealing, dustproofing, shockproofing, or freezeproofing. This mandates cautious use in challenging weather or rough outdoor conditions.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

Samsung ST80 front Samsung ST80 screen back Samsung WB30F front Samsung WB30F screen back

Portrait Photography

The WB30F’s face detection autofocus and slightly higher resolution sensor offer modest advantages capturing skin tones and facial details. However, neither camera’s limited zoom apertures produce creamy bokeh or pronounced background separation. The ST80’s manual exposure modes may benefit creative portraiture, but lack of face detection requires more active focusing discipline.

Landscape Photography

Neither model delivers exceptional dynamic range or high resolution for large prints. The WB30F’s wider 24mm equivalent lens facilitates broader vistas without distortion, better suited for landscapes than the ST80’s narrower 35mm start. Both lack weather sealing, constraining outdoor use in adverse conditions.

Wildlife Photography

With a 10× optical zoom, the WB30F is more versatile for distant wildlife shots but limited autofocus speed and focus tracking capabilities reduce success rates with rapid animal movement. The ST80’s maximum zoom is insufficient for serious wildlife.

Sports Photography

Slow non-continuous shooting and contrast-detection AF on both cameras result in missed frames and focus hunting. Neither is recommended for sports or fast-paced action.

Street Photography

The ST80’s compactness and touchscreen afford quick spontaneous shooting, though slower AF and fixed zoom range limit subject framing. WB30F is bulkier but benefits from face detection autofocus aiding candid portraits.

Macro Photography

ST80’s macro capability down to 5cm allows close-up shots; WB30F lacks published macro specs but can approximate with telephoto zoom. Both lack focus stacking or bracketing.

Night and Astro Photography

Limited ISO capability and noise control, combined with lack of bulb mode or long-exposure options, restrict use for astrophotography. Max shutter speeds of 1/8 sec (ST80) and 1/2000 sec (WB30F) do not extend into deep night exposures.

Video

The WB30F’s inclusion of H.264 encoding offers smoother video with more format options; the ST80’s Motion JPEG results in larger files and lower compression efficiency. Neither offer advanced stabilization for motion video.

Travel Photography

WB30F’s zoom versatility and wireless connectivity boost travel utility, albeit at increased size and weight compared to ST80’s ultra-compact design. Battery life in both remains a limiting factor during extended outings.

Professional Use

Neither camera supports RAW file capture, limiting post-processing flexibility. Build quality and feature sets fall short of professional standards.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Both the Samsung ST80 and WB30F are consumer-grade compacts designed to optimize portability and ease for casual shooters rather than professionals or serious enthusiasts. For buyers on a budget seeking simple snapshots, either suffices; however:

• Choose the Samsung ST80 if:

  • Ultra-compact size and touchscreen operation are your top priorities.
  • You desire some manual exposure controls for creative experimentation.
  • Your photographic needs center on street and travel photography in well-lit conditions.
  • You can tolerate a shorter zoom range.

• Choose the Samsung WB30F if:

  • You want a versatile zoom lens extending to 240mm equivalent for wildlife and landscapes.
  • Face detection autofocus and wireless connectivity are important.
  • You prefer automatic exposure and scene modes, and can manage navigation without touchscreen.
  • Video quality with efficient encoding is a priority.

Neither camera is suitable for demanding low-light, sports, or professional work due to sensor limitations, autofocus constraints, and lack of RAW support. Photographers seeking image quality and advanced features should explore newer mirrorless or enthusiast compact models.

This review, grounded in direct evaluation of hardware and software, aims to equip photographers with actionable insights to match their stylistic preferences and shooting requirements to these specific cameras’ capabilities.

For additional visual comparisons and real-world image galleries, see the embedded images throughout this article illustrating key differences in user interface, sensor and lens characteristics, and photographic outcomes.