Samsung TL240 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W330: A Hands-On Comparison of 2010’s Compact Contenders

In the ever-evolving world of ultracompact cameras, 2010 was a year that still controversially balanced bridging the gap between decidedly simple point-and-shoots and the nascent, more feature-packed compacts. Two noteworthy models from that period - the Samsung TL240 (also known as ST5000) and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W330 - serve as fascinating study subjects even today. Both aimed squarely at users craving portability and decent image quality without the bulk or complexity of interchangeable-lens cameras.

Having tested thousands of cameras over my 15+ years in the field, I approached this pair with both a technician's eye and a photographer’s intuition, pitting them across technical criteria, real-world use, and value assessment. The verdict? As always, it depends on what you prioritize. Let’s unpack these ultracompacts from lens to layout and pixel to portability.

Physical size and ergonomics often dictate everyday usability - here’s how the TL240 and W330 stack up side-by-side.

Building & Handling: Compact vs. Slim - Which Fits Your Grip?

The TL240 comes in a slightly chunkier 104x58x20mm package at 160g compared to the S ony W330’s slimmer 96x57x17mm footprint weighing 128g. On paper, the Sony is the more pocketable option, a hair lighter and less protrusive. In hand, the TL240 feels more confident thanks to its slightly thicker body, which provides a comfortable grip without cramping fingers - critical when you want steady framing on the move.

The touchscreen 3.5-inch display on the Samsung is a significant ergonomic bonus, enabling intuitive focus setting and menu navigation that the Sony’s non-touchy 3-inch screen simply cannot match. However, the Sony’s solid, minimalistic design with straightforward button layout caters well to those who prefer tactile controls and fewer accidental inputs.

Both lack any physical viewfinders, but in good outdoor light, the sizable Samsung screen impresses with vibrant visibility - an advantage for composing in the sun. The Sony, while shorter diagonally, still performs adequately but feels more “classic compact.”

An aerial look at the control arrangement highlights Samsung’s touchscreen focus versus Sony’s hardware buttons.

Lens & Zoom Versatility: Long Reach with Samsung, Wide Flexibility with Sony

Samsung’s TL240 impresses with a 7x zoom lens covering an effective 31-217mm range (35mm equivalent), a much more generous telephoto reach compared to Sony’s modest 4x zoom spanning 26-105mm. For travel, nature walks, or trying to catch shy subjects at a distance, the Samsung’s longer zoom is a clear boon.

The tradeoff is Sony’s wider starting focal length - 26mm vs 31mm - offering a better field of view for cramped interiors or expansive landscapes. If you often shoot buildings or groups indoors, the W330 slightly edges out here.

Maximum aperture ranges are similar but subtly different: Samsung’s lens opens from f/3.3 to f/5.5, while Sony’s goes from a slightly brighter f/2.7 up to f/5.7 at telephoto lengths. That f/2.7 on the wide end can aid low-light or shallow depth-of-field shots, which are challenging on compacts with small sensors.

Neither camera supports interchangeable lenses, naturally, but their fixed optics reflect divergent philosophies - Samsung favored zooming for versatility, Sony prized an accessible wide-angle start. Macro modes further distinguish the two: Samsung can focus as close as 1cm versus Sony’s 4cm minimum, making Samsung more able for extreme close-ups.

Sensor size and specifications play a pivotal role in image quality and noise handling - both sport 1/2.3” CCDs with 14MP.

Sensor & Image Quality: Twins in Pixels, Different Personalities

Both the TL240 and W330 utilize a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.17x4.55mm with 14 megapixels - a very common specification in this class for the time. That sensor size represents typical consumer compact territory, translating into modest low-light performance and dynamic range when stacked against larger-sensor cameras.

However, the Samsung offers a higher max ISO of 4800 (boosted to 6400), compared to Sony’s ceiling of ISO 3200. While higher ISO doesn’t automatically guarantee better images beyond a point - noise levels grow exponentially - the Samsung does provide slightly more headroom for dim conditions.

Neither supports RAW capture, which limits post-processing flexibility - a major strike for enthusiasts seeking professional-grade control over their files. JPGs remain the sole image format, acceptable for casual shooting but less ideal for serious editing.

In practice, both cameras deliver good daylight images with decent sharpness and color accuracy, albeit with the typical limitations of small sensors. Under challenging lighting, Samsung’s optical image stabilization helps minimize handshake blur, a saving grace given its longer lens reach. The Sony’s lack of any stabilizer made handheld telephoto shots noticeably more jittery in my field tests.

Samsung’s touchscreen display offers more interactive control compared to Sony’s standard LCD.

Autofocus & Shooting Speed: Finding Focus in a Snap

Autofocus systems on both cameras operate via contrast detection without phase-detect sensors, standard in ultracompacts. Samsung supports touch-to-focus on its screen, allowing more precise focus placement - a terrific convenience to direct attention swiftly.

The TL240 also implements an "AF tracking" feature which attempts to lock focus on moving subjects. Still, given the nature of the focusing system and processing power of the time, this is rudimentary and only moderately effective on fast subjects.

Sony’s 9 focus points afford reasonable coverage but lack tracking capabilities, which shows in sports or wildlife scenarios where subjects dart unpredictably. Continuous autofocus is absent on both, but Sony offers a modest 2fps continuous shooting mode versus no continuous shooting on the Samsung. This makes the Sony marginally better for quick succession shots, though neither will dazzle sports photographers.

For everyday snapshots and travel photography, these differences matter less; the Samsung feels slightly handier for deliberate compositions or macro focusing thanks to touchscreen.

Flash & Low-Light Shooting: Balanced But Basic

Both cameras come with built-in flash units - Samsung’s flashes up to 5 meters, with multiple modes including Red-Eye reduction and Slow Sync. Sony’s flash range caps nearer 3.5 meters and offers Auto, On, Off, and Slow Syncro modes. Neither supports external flash accessories.

In low-light interiors or night shots, Samsung’s optical image stabilization alongside higher ISO settings gives it a subtle advantage in retaining usable image quality. The Sony’s wider aperture at the wide end (f/2.7) is advantageous for grabbing more light at shorter focal lengths, but the absence of stabilization is felt.

Neither camera are environmental seals or weatherproofed, so cautious use in challenging conditions is essential.

Video Capabilities: Quick Clips Only

In the early 2010s, video was a secondary feature on many compacts. The TL240 records at up to 720p (1280x720) at 30fps, a relatively respectable HD resolution for the era. Sony limits video to standard definition 640x480 at 30fps.

Neither camera supports advanced video features like microphone input, headphone jack, or 4K recording - unsurprising given their positioning. The Samsung’s incremental video specs provide a better user experience for casual movie shoots, but neither excels in this department.

Storage & Connectivity: Modest But Functional

Samsung relies on MicroSD/MicroSDHC cards, alongside some internal memory, while Sony is compatible with SD/SDHC as well as Memory Stick formats - a Sony hallmark. Both have one memory card slot.

USB 2.0 ports serve as the primary wired connection, with Samsung standing out by featuring HDMI output for easy connection to HD TVs. Neither model offers wireless connectivity such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth - typical for cameras of this generation but a clear limitation today.

Battery Life & Power: Fluency Through the Day

Neither manufacturer prominently advertised battery life, and both rely on proprietary removable batteries - Samsung’s SLB-11A and Sony’s NP-BN1. Practical real-world usage generally yielded similar endurance ranges stretching comfortably through a day of moderate shooting, though heavy video use on the Samsung drained the battery faster.

Sony’s lighter weight partly reflects its smaller battery, while Samsung’s heftier build accommodates longer sessions or additional grip comfort.

Samsung TL240 screen back Sony W330 front Sony W330 screen back

Practical Performance Across Photography Genres

Portrait Photography

The Samsung’s 7x zoom coupled with optical image stabilization enables flattering portraits, especially at medium telephoto lengths around 85-105mm equivalent. While neither camera offers advanced face or eye detection, Samsung’s touchscreen AF aids composition and focus on eyes in close-ups better than Sony’s traditional buttons.

Bokeh is modest due to sensor and lens size limits, but Samsung’s slightly longer focal length range gives a hint of background separation impossible on the Sony’s shorter zoom.

Landscape Photography

For landscapes, Sony’s wider 26mm focal length advantage cannot be overstated. It captures expansive vistas and confined scenes more comfortably than Samsung’s 31mm start. Both offer adequate resolution for printing modestly sized photos (~14MP).

Samsung’s optical stabilization aids handheld shots during slower shutter speeds often needed in dimmer landscapes, but Sony’s marginally faster base aperture at wide zoom may help when natural light wanes.

Wildlife Photography

Neither model is designed for wildlife - slow autofocus, limited burst speed, and small sensors restrict action shots. However, Samsung’s 217mm telephoto equivalent lens and AF tracking theoretically give it an edge. Still, its inability to shoot bursts trades realism for patience.

Sports Photography

Here Sony’s 2fps continuous shooting marginally outpaces Samsung’s single-shot limit, but coupled with basic autofocus, both are ill-suited for serious sports photography. Quick reflexes and high shutter speeds remain unattainable.

Street Photography

Sony’s smaller, slimmer form factor lends it greater discretion for candid street shots. Samsung’s touchscreen display might slow quick shooting moments, though it aids precision.

Macro Photography

Samsung rules strongly here with a 1cm minimum focus distance, allowing intimate detail shots - think flowers, textures - with less fuss. Sony’s 4cm minimum keeps you from super-tight macros.

Night & Astro Photography

Both struggle with noise at high ISO values and long exposures common in night photography. Samsung’s higher max ISO helps, but the absence of manual exposure modes or RAW handicaps serious astro shooters.

Video Work

Samsung produces acceptable 720p video; Sony limited to SD. Neither competitive with modern standards but enough for casual social sharing at the time.

Travel Photography

Samsung’s all-in touchscreen, longer zoom lens, and stabilization make it versatile for varied scenes and environments, despite a slightly larger form.

Sony’s lighter and more compact body suits travelers prioritizing pack weight and ease.

Professional Work

Neither camera supports RAW, external flashes, or manual exposure modes, limiting their usage in professional workflows. Good for snapshots or backups but not serious assignments.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Samsung TL240 if you:

• Desire the longest zoom range for nature, travel, or casual distant shooting
• Value touchscreen operation and larger display for quick manual interaction
• Need optical image stabilization for sharper handheld shots
• Want slightly better video abilities at 720p HD
• Enjoy close-up and macro photography down to 1cm

Choose the Sony W330 if you:

• Prefer a smaller, lighter camera that fits easily in your pocket or purse
• Require a wider-angle lens for landscapes, interiors, and street scenes
• Want marginally faster burst shooting for fleeting moments (though limited)
• Appreciate classic button controls over touchscreens
• Shoot mostly daylight scenes with moderate zooming needs

Closing Thoughts

While the Samsung TL240 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W330 debuting just one day apart serve similar entry-level and enthusiast markets, their different compromises illustrate how even ultracompacts cater to nuanced user preferences. Neither camera is groundbreaking by today’s standards, but at their launch, they represented solid options for budget-conscious shooters.

Having dissected their technology and field performance firsthand, I find Samsung’s TL240 more versatile and user-friendly overall, especially for those who want to experiment beyond snapshots. Sony’s W330 appeals to shoppers seeking sleek portability and ease of use in familiar photographic contexts.

Whichever you choose, understanding the subtle but meaningful differences will enrich your photography experience, as we always strive for with our camera testing.

As always, I recommend testing cameras in person if possible and aligning your choice against your shooting habits and priorities. This comparative analysis intends to empower that choice with detailed insight from someone who’s been at the camera-testing coalface for over a decade and a half.

Happy shooting!