Samsung WB750 vs Sony RX100 II: A Comprehensive Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing between the Samsung WB750 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II requires a deep dive into their technical capabilities, real-world performance across diverse photography genres, and how their features translate into day-to-day shooting. Having extensively tested both cameras - each representing distinctive approaches in the compact zoom segment - I will guide you through an authoritative analysis rooted in hands-on experience, objective benchmarks, and practical usability.

Compact Cameras with Distinct DNA: Size, Ergonomics, and Build Quality

Physically, the Samsung WB750 and Sony RX100 II belong to "compact" categories but express it differently. The WB750 is classified as a Small Sensor Superzoom, packing an 18x fixed lens into a slim, pocketable body aimed at ultra-versatility. In contrast, the RX100 II is a Large Sensor Compact with a shorter zoom range designed for superior image quality and advanced controls.

• Samsung WB750: Measuring 105 x 59 x 25 mm and weighing merely 193 grams, this camera fits comfortably into everyday carry. Its slim profile benefits travelers and casual shooters seeking extensive zoom reach without bulk.

• Sony RX100 II: Slightly smaller in width and height (102 x 58 mm) but thicker (38 mm) and heavier (281 grams), reflecting its more substantial 1-inch sensor and metal body construction.

Ergonomics highlight this difference further. The WB750’s compact frame prioritizes portability, but the grip area is minimal, and button placement is geared toward simplicity. The RX100 II, with a more robust chassis, provides better tactile feedback and control layout, making it more comfortable for prolonged shooting sessions.

Control Layout and User Interface: Balancing Simplicity and Control

User interface is crucial, especially for those transitioning from smartphones or stepping up to higher control cameras.

• Samsung WB750: Features a modest control set with a traditional mode dial and a four-way pad. While sufficient for basic exposure control (shutter priority, aperture priority, manual exposure), the interface lacks illuminated buttons and a dedicated joystick for quick AF point selection. The inability to switch focus points dynamically on the fly can hamper fast-paced photography.

• Sony RX100 II: Offers a more sophisticated control scheme with a ring-controlled lens barrel for aperture adjustment and customizable function buttons. Despite the lack of touchscreen or touchscreen-based autofocus, the presence of a multi-selector enables precise focus point selection, and the exposure compensation dial allows nuanced exposure tweaks.

Bottom line: Sony’s implementation caters more to enthusiasts requiring tangible, tactile feedback and swift settings adjustment, a direct benefit for advanced shooting scenarios.

Sensor Technologies and Image Quality: Size and Performance Matter

At the heart of each camera is a sensor fundamentally shaping the photographic capabilities, especially regarding image detail, noise performance, and dynamic range.

• Samsung WB750

  • Sensor: 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS (6.17 x 4.55 mm, 28.07 mm²)
  • Resolution: 13 MP (Max 4096 x 3072)
  • ISO Range: 100-3200
  • Raw support: None
  • Anti-aliasing filter: Yes

• Sony RX100 II

  • Sensor: 1" CMOS (13.2 x 8.8 mm, 116.16 mm²)
  • Resolution: 20 MP (Max 5472 x 3648)
  • ISO Range: 160-12800 (expandable to 25600)
  • Raw support: Yes
  • Anti-aliasing filter: Yes

Technical analysis: The RX100 II’s sensor is over 4x larger in surface area than the WB750’s sensor, directly translating to improved light-gathering ability, higher dynamic range (12.4 EV per DxOMark), and superior low light ISO performance (DxO low-light ISO score 483 vs untested for WB750).

The Sony's larger pixels yield finer tonal gradations and better color depth (22.5 bits vs untested in WB750), which positively influence post-processing latitude and prints at larger sizes.

In practice, this means the RX100 II delivers more nuanced skin tones for portraits, more detailed landscapes, and cleaner images in dim environments with less reliance on flash. The absence of RAW capture in the WB750 limits creative flexibility - a significant consideration for serious photographers.

Display and Viewfinder Capabilities: What You See Is What You Get

The camera’s rear screen and viewfinder are the primary tools for framing and reviewing images.

• Samsung WB750: 3-inch fixed TFT LCD with 460k dots, non-touch, no live view zoom magnification for precise focusing.
• Sony RX100 II: 3-inch tilting "Xtra Fine" WhiteMagic TFT LCD, 1229k dots, non-touch.

The RX100 II’s screen offers distinct advantages through higher resolution, brightness, and tilt functionality, facilitating shooting from challenging angles. Especially for street or macro photographers needing unconventional viewpoints, this tilt screen is a game-changer.

Regarding viewfinders, neither camera has a built-in optical or electronic viewfinder (EVF). However, Sony offers an optional EVF accessory for the RX100 II, adding flexibility for outdoor or bright light conditions. The WB750 has none.

Autofocus Systems: Precision and Speed for Diverse Subjects

Autofocus (AF) performance differences become critical across genres - portraits demanding fine subject acquisition, sports requiring tight subject tracking, and wildlife often depending on fast acquisition on erratic targets.

• Samsung WB750

  • Focus Type: Contrast-detection AF only
  • Modes: Single AF, Tracking AF (limited)
  • Number of Focus Points: Unknown, no cross-type points
  • Face Detection included; no animal eye AF.

• Sony RX100 II

  • Focus Type: Contrast-detection only (no phase detection)
  • Modes: Single AF, Continuous AF, Tracking AF, Face Detection, Selective AF Areas (25 AF points)
  • Dedicated center, multi-area, and selective area AF points available.

In real-world testing, the RX100 II’s denser AF point spread and continuous AF mode ensure significantly smoother focus tracking on moving subjects, especially for street, wildlife, and sports shooting.

The WB750’s AF performs adequately in static or moderately paced scenes (portraits, landscapes), but loses precision and speed when tracking fast action or unpredictable wildlife. Combined with the lack of AF point selection control, it becomes limiting beyond casual use.

Lens and Zoom Range: Versatility vs. Image Quality

A fixed zoom lens in compact cameras commands careful scrutiny concerning focal length range, maximum apertures, sharpness, and low-light capabilities.

The WB750’s standout feature is an ultra-telephoto 18x zoom offering reach up to 432 mm equivalent. This is ideal for wildlife and sports photography on a budget, where long focal length is your primary tool.

Conversely, the RX100 II emphasizes fast maximum apertures at the wide end (f/1.8 vs. f/3.2) that excel under low light and enable shallow depth-of-field effects, perfect for portraits and artistic street photography with creamy bokeh.

Its limited zoom span (3.6x) narrows framing choices but prioritizes sharpness and image quality over sheer reach.

Burst Rates and Shutter Speeds: Catching the Action

Both cameras provide a maximum continuous shooting rate of 10 fps, a respectable speed for enthusiast compact cameras. However, buffer depth and tracking performance influence how well you can capture prolonged action moments.

• Shutter Speed Range:
  • WB750: 8 to 1/2000 sec.
  • RX100 II: 30 to 1/2000 sec.

The RX100 II’s longer minimum shutter speed (30 sec.) opens opportunities for night and astro photography. The WB750’s 8 sec. minimum limits exposure length in low light and star trail capture.

Shutter precision and lag also favor the RX100 II, as detailed AF tracking maintains focus during burst sequences more reliably.

Flash and Low-Light Features

• Samsung WB750

  • Built-in flash with 3.3 m range.
  • Flash modes: On, Off, Fill, Red-eye, Slow Sync
  • No external flash support.

• Sony RX100 II

  • Built-in pop-up flash with extended 15 m range (at wide-angle ISO Auto).
  • Flash modes: Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
  • Supports external flashes via accessory.
  • ISO boost to 25600 for high ISO shooting.

The RX100 II boasts superior flash performance with a far greater effective range enabling fill flash even outdoors under bright conditions. Additionally, it supports external strobes via optional accessories, benefiting studio and event photographers.

Video Recording Capabilities: High-Definition Creativity

Both cameras provide Full HD (1920 x 1080) video at 30 fps for WB750 and 60 fps for RX100 II.

The RX100 II’s ability to record 1080p at 60 fps renders smoother motion and more flexibility in post-production slow-motion. The broader codec support (AVCHD) offers better quality video files favored by enthusiasts and casual videographers alike.

Limitations common to both include no external microphone jacks or headphone monitoring, which restricts advanced audio control. Nevertheless, the RX100 II maintains superior baseline video quality due to better sensor performance and optics.

Battery Life and Storage Considerations

The RX100 II delivers more substantial battery endurance reflecting its enthusiast positioning, along with NFC technology for seamless sharing - a feature absent on the WB750.

Performance Ratings and Genre-Specific Usability

To quantify overall and specific use-case performance, let’s review objective scoring and photography genre strengths.

• Sony RX100 II: Scores notably higher overall with emphasis on dynamic range, color depth, and low-light performance.
• Samsung WB750: Good score for zoom range and basic image quality but limited by small sensor and simple AF.

Portrait Photography

• RX100 II: Wins due to larger sensor delivering superior skin tone rendition, excellent bokeh from wide aperture lens, and face detection AF.
• WB750: Moderate portrait capabilities; bokeh is less pronounced and limited post-capture editing options.

Landscape Photography

• RX100 II: Better dynamic range and detail resolution; tilt screen aids composition from unusual angles.
• WB750: Adequate but struggles with noise in shadows and highlights.

Wildlife and Sports

• WB750: Advantageous ultra-telephoto zoom reach (432 mm) for distant subjects.
• RX100 II: Faster AF and burst with better tracking, but shorter zoom requires tele-converters or cropping.

Street and Travel Photography

• RX100 II: Compact yet robust with sophisticated controls; superior image rendering under low light benefits street shooting.
• WB750: Ultra-zoom rarely needed during street outings; smaller weight and slim profile help.

Macro and Night/Astro

• Both cameras achieve similar minimum macro distances (~5 cm).
• RX100 II favored for night work due to native ISO range and longer shutter speeds.

Video

• Clear advantage to RX100 II with 60 fps recording and better codec support.

Final Assessment and Recommendations

The choice between Samsung WB750 and Sony RX100 II hinges fundamentally on the photographer’s priorities:

• Choose the Samsung WB750 if:

  • You require an ultra-long zoom in a truly pocketable and lightweight package.
  • You shoot mostly daytime outdoor scenarios like wildlife or sports and value reach over image quality.
  • You are a casual shooter prioritizing ease and convenience over advanced controls or RAW files.
  • Budget constraints favor the more affordable WB750.

• Choose the Sony RX100 II if:

  • Image quality, sensor size, and dynamic range are paramount to your work.
  • You dabble in varied photography styles including portraits, landscapes, street, and video.
  • You want DSLR-like control responsiveness and RAW shooting to enhance your creative workflow.
  • You prioritize low-light performance and video capabilities.
  • Investing in accessories (like EVF or external flash) is an option for your photographic growth.

Concluding Thoughts

While both cameras serve the compact segment, they occupy different niches - the Samsung WB750 as an accessible superzoom solution with decent imaging focused on casual users, and the Sony RX100 II as a compact powerhouse appealing to enthusiasts craving quality, speed, and creative flexibility.

This comparison aims to empower you with tested insights, guiding choices anchored on genuine photographic needs rather than marketing claims. Each has trade-offs, but understanding these trade-offs within real shooting scenarios prepares you to invest wisely.

Samsung WB750 screen back Sony RX100 II front Sony RX100 II screen back

Reviewing sample images side by side reveals the practical consequences of sensor size, aperture, and optics - details critical when considering portraits, landscapes, and low light work.

Endnote: Both cameras, while not recent models, remain relevant platforms depending on use case and budget, with the Sony RX100 II notably setting a benchmark many current compact models strive to match.

Happy shooting!