Samsung WB250F vs Sony A68: A Real-World Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing between cameras often involves more than checking specs - it’s about how these specs translate into real photography experiences. Today, I’m putting the Samsung WB250F, a compact superzoom from early 2013, head-to-head against the more advanced Sony A68, an entry-level DSLR that came out almost three years later. While both cameras target different categories and price points, this comparison aims to help serious photographers - whether enthusiasts or professionals - decide if either could fit niche needs or travel bags, or simply serve as a secondary camera.

I’ve personally tested thousands of cameras, and the nuances here matter: sensor sizes, autofocus prowess, ergonomics, and even video features all color how you’ll use these tools. Let’s dig in.

Getting a Feel: Size, Build, and Ergonomics in Your Hands

I often start my evaluations with ergonomics - because a great sensor or lens won’t compensate for frustrating handling during long shoots.

The Samsung WB250F is a sleek, pocketable compact with fixed 24-432mm equivalent zoom (that’s an 18x optical zoom!), weighing just 226g. Its body dimensions - 106x62x22 mm - make it truly light and portable, perfect if you want an all-in-one day-to-day companion without hauling gear.

Contrast that with the Sony A68, weighing 610g and sized at 143x104x81 mm - clearly a substantial DSLR body, but still smaller than typical full-frame models thanks to its APS-C sensor format. The A68's build feels more robust with classic DSLR ergonomics: a deep grip, button placement for quick access, and a tilting screen to help with tricky angles.

Here’s a direct side-by-side of their size and ergonomics:

Personally, when I’m traveling light or doing casual street or wildlife photography (where ready portability matters), the Samsung’s minimal footprint is a plus. But if you want more tactile control, especially for manual settings or longer shooting sessions, the Sony’s heft gives stability and intuitive handling.

Controls and Interface: Quick Access vs Classic Layout

Taking off the lens and peering down from a top view reveals more about user experience than raw specs.

The Samsung WB250F’s top plate is simple and minimalistic - great for casual shooting and quick zoom-ins, but limited on customizable dials. The touchscreen LCD (a refreshing feature for 2013) lets you tap menus, though physical button fans might find it slightly limiting.

The Sony A68 brings a traditional DSLR array - mode dial, dedicated exposure compensation dial, multiple configurable buttons - and an articulated 2.7" tilting screen. Its electronic viewfinder (EVF) gives you clear, bright 100% frameline coverage, perfect for shooting in bright or fast-paced conditions where LCDs aren’t ideal.

See the control layout difference yourself here:

If you want full manual control and instant exposure adjustments, the Sony is the clear winner. The Samsung’s touchscreen does offer simplified navigation but doesn’t quite replace physical controls when speed is key.

The Sensor Battle: Size Matters for Image Quality and Depth

Now, onto the heart of image quality - the sensor. The Samsung WB250F sports a 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor, measuring just 6.17 x 4.55 mm with 14 MP resolution. In contrast, the Sony A68 shines with a significantly larger APS-C CMOS sensor of 23.5 x 15.6 mm, sporting 24 MP.

Let me put that in perspective: the Sony’s sensor area is over 13 times larger, which directly impacts image quality - better dynamic range, low-light performance, and depth of field control.

This visualization helps:

From my lab tests and real shooting, the Sony A68’s sensor delivers richer color depth, superior tonal gradation, and more usable ISO thresholds - "ISO 701" (DxOMark low-light score) versus the Samsung’s untested but known modest performance. That makes a big difference for landscape photographers chasing highlight/shadow detail or portrait shooters wanting creamy bokeh with shallow depth.

Viewing and Framing: LCDs and Viewfinders in Action

On the back, the Samsung’s 3-inch fixed touchscreen LCD with 460k dots offers decent clarity for framing and playback, but lacks brightness and articulation, which limits versatility outdoors or in tricky positions.

Sony offers a 2.7-inch tilting screen of roughly equivalent resolution but adds the game-changer: a high-res electronic viewfinder (1440k dots) with full coverage and good magnification, enabling precise manual focus confirmation - even in bright daylight.

Here’s the back interface comparison:

For me, an EVF is essential for any professional or enthusiast aiming to nail focus and composition consistently. The Samsung’s lack of viewfinder restricts it to live view shooting - fine for casual snaps, not so much for deliberate photography.

Image Output: Real-World Picture Quality and Sample Gallery

Of course, specs don’t tell the whole story; image samples bridge theory and practice.

Below, you’ll find crops and full-frame shots from the Samsung WB250F and the Sony A68. You can check color rendering, sharpness, noise levels, and bokeh character across various lighting and subjects - portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and more.

Samsung WB250F front Samsung WB250F screen back Sony A68 front Sony A68 screen back

What I observed:

• Portraits: The Sony’s larger sensor enabled much smoother skin tone gradations and pleasing background separation. The Samsung, with its smaller sensor and narrower apertures (f/3.2-5.8), struggles to isolate subjects; skin tones are flatter.

• Landscapes: The A68’s 24 MP resolution really shines when cropping or printing large. Dynamic range is noticeably better - retaining details in shadows and highlights. The WB250F’s sensor clips highlights more easily and shows more noise in darker areas.

• Wildlife and sports: Both have decent continuous shooting (8 fps), but Sony’s autofocus system (79 points, including 15 cross-type) is far more capable of tracking fast action than Samsung’s limited contrast-detection AF. The A68 is the clear choice here.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Is the Speed Worth It?

When I set up high-paced shooting scenarios, autofocus is where the rubber meets the road.

Samsung’s WB250F relies mainly on contrast-detection AF, with face detection but no phase detection, limiting speed and accuracy under low contrast or fast-moving subjects.

The Sony A68, equipped with 79 autofocus points including 15 cross-type sensors and a hybrid PDAF system, performs impressively in action photography. It sustains continuous autofocus during 8 fps burst shooting, which is critical for sports or wildlife.

Moreover, the Sony’s shutter speed range (30 s to 1/4000s) versus Samsung’s (1/16s to 1/2000s) provides more flexibility for motion freeze or slow shutter effects.

Lens and System Ecosystem: Fixed Zoom vs. Interchangeable Lenses

This is a make-or-break feature depending on your intent.

The Samsung WB250F comes with a fixed 24-432mm f/3.2-5.8 lens. Wide zoom coverage is attractive and convenient, but optical performance can’t match dedicated lenses. Macro photography relies on in-camera modes rather than specialized optics.

The Sony A68 uses the Sony / Minolta Alpha A-mount, boasting over 140 compatible lenses ranging from ultra-wide, fast primes, super-telephoto zooms, macro, and specialized glass. This flexibility makes the A68 a true system camera capable of growing with your skills.

In the field, I found the Sony with a fast 50mm prime or 70-300mm zoom far sharper and better controlled than the Samsung’s built-in lens across all apertures.

Video Capabilities: Casual Clips or Semi-Professional?

The Samsung can record 1080p at 30 fps, coded in MPEG-4 or H.264, but lacks stabilization beyond optical lens-based IS and has no microphone input.

The Sony A68 offers 1080p also, but at 60i/30p/24p, in richer codecs including AVCHD and XAVC S. Crucially, it features a microphone input for cleaner sound, important for vloggers or semi-professional shooters. The sensor-based stabilization aids handheld video.

Neither supports 4K, but if video is a part of your workflow, the Sony’s offerings are noticeably stronger.

Battery Life and Connectivity: All-Day Shooting and Sharing

Battery life can crush a shoot if overlooked.

The Sony A68 boasts approximately 510 shots per charge, a full three times better than most compacts like the WB250F (official battery info missing, but typical compacts average 200-250 shots).

Connectivity wise, the Samsung includes built-in Wi-Fi, allowing quick sharing and remote control via smartphone apps - a rare feature for its time.

Sony offers Eye-Fi card compatibility, letting you transfer photos wirelessly via compatible SD cards. However, no native Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is built-in, and NFC is absent on both.

Performance and Reliability Ratings: Objective Scores and User Reception

Benchmark scores from DxOMark assign the Sony A68 a fairly strong 79 overall, excellent color depth at 24.1 bits, a wide dynamic range, and impressive low-light ISO performance.

Samsung’s WB250F isn’t tested by DxOMark, reflecting its more casual user base.

Below is a concise summary of overall performance:

How Do These Cameras Perform Across Photography Genres?

Breaking down by genre helps clarify which camera is right for your style:

• Portrait: Sony A68 excels with sensor size and lens options.
• Landscape: Sony outperforms in resolution and dynamic range.
• Wildlife/Sports: Sony’s AF system and frame rates dominate.
• Street: Samsung might edge out for portability, though Sony’s EVF is valuable.
• Macro: Sony’s lens flexibility wins.
• Night/Astro: Sony’s sensor and ISO range perform better.
• Video: Sony for more control and better output.
• Travel: Samsung’s compact size is tempting; Sony offers versatility.
• Professional Use: Sony is far superior with RAW support and reliability.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Buy Which?

Whether you’re a casual snapper or a serious hobbyist, your choices boil down to priorities:

• Pick the Samsung WB250F if you want a light, easy superzoom without fuss, suitable for family fun, travel snapshots, and casual shooting with respectable zoom and touchscreen convenience.

• Choose the Sony A68 if you seek greater image quality, manual control, and long-term system growth, ideal for portraits, landscapes, sports, video, and serious creative work.

In my experience, for enthusiasts wanting a camera that can grow and deliver consistently excellent results, the Sony A68 is the standout. The Samsung fills a useful niche for those needing simple zoom flexibility with minimal gear.

Happy shooting!

If you’re debating between these two, ask yourself: Do you want a no-hassle superzoom in a compact body, or a more serious DSLR system? Your future images will thank you.