Samsung WB800F vs Sony Cyber-shot QX30: A Detailed Comparison for the Informed Photographer

Choosing the right camera often hinges on subtle but critical details - especially when comparing compact superzoom models like the Samsung WB800F and the Sony Cyber-shot QX30. Both target enthusiasts seeking versatile zoom capabilities without the bulk of full interchangeable-lens systems. However, they take vastly different design and usage approaches that influence user experience and image-making outcomes.

Drawing on years of hands-on testing of imaging gear, this article dives deep into a side-by-side comparison spanning design, sensor technology, autofocus, image quality, and suitability across photography genres. Whether you’re a casual snapshooter, a serious enthusiast, or a professional needing a travel-friendly superzoom backup, this guide offers clear, practical insights to find your ideal match.

Size, Ergonomics & Handling: Compact Convenience or Lens-Style Innovation?

Let's start with how these cameras feel in your hands, which you’ll appreciate when shooting for hours.

• Samsung WB800F: A traditional compact body with a fixed lens. You get a well-rounded, pocketable form at 111mm wide, 65mm tall, and 22mm deep, weighing roughly 218 grams. It offers dedicated physical controls - shutter, zoom, and modes all in familiar spots.

• Sony QX30: A radically different design–a lens-style camera that pairs with your smartphone via Wi-Fi. It measures 68x65x58mm and weighs 193 grams, lacking a built-in screen or viewfinder, relying on your phone to frame shots.

User Experience Notes
The WB800F feels like a traditional compact with accessible buttons and a grip-friendly shell, suitable if you prefer to shoot independently without tethering to another device. The QX30, on the other hand, is perfect if you want to leverage your smartphone’s interface while gaining a powerful telescopic zoom. However, it requires near-constant connection, and handling is unconventional - more of an accessory than a standalone tool.

Design Philosophy & Controls: Intuitive Layout vs App-Dependent Interface

Your shooting efficiency depends largely on control layout and interface responsiveness.

Samsung WB800F features straightforward, tactile controls with essential buttons for exposure modes, a rear touchscreen (which supports touch focus), and physical zoom toggles integrated into the lens barrel - making quick framing and adjustments very manageable.

Sony QX30 has almost no direct controls; all operation hinges on Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile app. This app provides live view, focus, shutter release, and settings adjustments, but introduces inevitable lag and dependency on wireless stability.

• WB800F supports aperture and shutter priority, manual exposure, and exposure compensation.
• QX30 offers shutter priority but no manual exposure mode or exposure comp options, limiting creative control.

If you prize fast, hands-on navigability, the WB800F will suit you better. For those comfortable integrating their smartphone fully into their workflow, the QX30 offers innovative connectivity but adds complexity.

Sensor & Image Quality: Balancing Resolution, Size, and Noise Performance

At the heart of any camera is its sensor, which fundamentally dictates image quality.

Technical Insight
Both cameras employ back-illuminated CMOS sensors of identical size, optimizing low-light gathering capabilities compared to traditional designs. The QX30 edges ahead slightly with a 20MP resolution, offering finer details for prints and cropping, yet the difference is subtle in everyday use.

However, neither supports RAW shooting, limiting post-processing flexibility for professionals accustomed to extensive edits.

Real-World Performance
In daylight, both cameras provide keen details and vibrant colors straight from JPEGs. At higher ISOs (above 800), noise increases progressively but remains manageable at ISO 1600. The WB800F shows slightly smoother gradations, possibly due to gentler noise reduction settings, suitable for portraits and landscapes.

Autofocus & Shooting Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking Capabilities

Autofocus technology can make or break your ability to capture fleeting moments, especially in wildlife, sports, or street scenarios.

Expert Observations
Without phase detection, both cameras rely on contrast detection autofocus, which is slower and less reliable in low light or fast-moving subjects. The WB800F supports face detection and tracking, which works well for casual portraits and street photography but lacks finer eye AF precision seen in modern cameras.

The QX30 offers faster burst shooting at 10 fps, beneficial in action contexts, but limited tracking ability and dependence on your phone’s connection may introduce lag.

Lens Performance: Versatile Zoom Versus Extreme Reach

The lens is another crucial element defining your photographic potential.

The QX30’s longer 30x zoom range excels for wildlife and distant landscapes, offering reach rivals many entry-level DSLRs with telephoto zooms. However, the slower maximum aperture at long zoom lengths (f/6.3) may impact low-light usability and bokeh quality.

The WB800F’s brighter wide aperture (f/2.8) favors portraits with smoother background separation at moderate zoom but maxes out at 21x, limiting reach.

Both lenses have optical image stabilization, mitigating blur at extended focal lengths.

Display & Viewfinding: Framing Your Shot Your Way

Neither camera has a traditional electronic viewfinder, but their approach to live framing and interface differs.

Shooting with the WB800F is a traditional compact experience - use the fixed 3-inch screen with touch capability to adjust focus points and navigate menus. It’s reliable in most lighting but can be tough in bright sunlight.

The QX30 depends entirely on your smartphone’s display. This frees the lens unit from screen burden, making it smaller and lighter, but tethering means you’re reliant on your phone's battery and connectivity. Latency in the app may affect precise focusing.

Battery Life & Storage: Your Day’s Worth of Snaps

Battery life impacts how long you can shoot before interruptions, especially on travel or outdoor adventures.

• Samsung WB800F battery life details are unspecified but typical compacts deliver around 200-300 shots per charge.
• Sony QX30 specifies around 200 shots per charge using the NP-BN battery.

Storage-wise:

• WB800F accepts SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards.
• QX30 uses microSD cards and Memory Stick Micro formats.

Smaller memory cards can be less expensive but might limit your capacity if you shoot many raw or high-res files (not applicable here since raw is unsupported).

Wireless & Connectivity: Sharing and Workflow Integration

Modern photography involves quick sharing and remote control.

The QX30 takes the lead with NFC, simplifying pairing with compatible smartphones - a plus if you want near-instant connection without fiddly setup.

Both cameras support Wi-Fi for transferring images or remote shooting via apps. However, the WB800F also offers HDMI out, useful for direct viewing on larger screens.

Versatility Across Photography Genres

Let’s contextualize their features in various popular photography disciplines:

Portrait Photography

• Samsung WB800F: Larger aperture at wide end (f/2.8) helps render pleasant background blur. Face detection aids focusing on subjects’ expressions for flattering skin tones. No eye-detection but suitable for casual portraiture.

• Sony QX30: Smaller aperture and app-based focus reduce nuanced control. Good for travel portraits with long reach but less suited for artistic shallow depth-of-field effects.

Landscape Photography

• QX30 offers extensive zoom for distant landscape elements; 20MP sensor provides excellent resolution. Lack of weather sealing limits use in harsh outdoor conditions.

• WB800F features sharper, brighter optics at the wide-angle for landscapes, though lower zoom range requires more positioning.

Wildlife Photography

• The QX30’s 30x zoom and 10 fps burst make it more viable for capturing elusive wildlife. However, autofocus limitations and smartphone interface may cause delays.

• WB800F lagging in burst speed, smaller zoom - less ideal for fast-moving wildlife.

Sports Photography

Neither camera was designed with sports in mind, but QX30’s faster burst rate gives it a slight advantage for capturing action. Both struggle with continuous autofocus during fast motion.

Street Photography

• WB800F’s discreet form and quick controls favor spontaneous shooting.

• QX30’s unusual form factor and dependence on a smartphone might hinder walk-and-shoot street style.

Macro Photography

Neither camera specializes in macro. Lack of specified minimum focus distances limits close-up potential.

Night and Astro Photography

Small sensor size and limited ISO capability restrict astro applications for both. WB800F’s aperture advantages may slightly improve low-light images; neither supports long-exposure or bulb modes.

Video Capabilities

Sony QX30’s 1080p at 60fps is better for smooth motion capture, while the WB800F caps at 30fps. Neither offers microphone input, limiting professional audio.

Travel Photography

Both cameras are lightweight and pocketable (WB800F more so), but QX30’s dependence on smartphone might complicate travel shooting. WB800F offers flash for varied conditions.

Professional Work

Limited by lack of raw support, small sensors, and compact designs, neither camera fits typical professional workflows but may serve as supplemental devices.

Sample Images and Real-World Image Comparison

A crucial element is to see how these cameras perform in actual shooting environments.

Samsung WB800F screen back Sony QX30 front Sony QX30 screen back

Observe the following in the samples:

• WB800F delivers natural colors and balanced exposure in portrait and landscape shots.
• QX30 excels in distant detail capture thanks to the long zoom but shows softness and noise creeping in at longer focal lengths.
• Both handle daylight well, but shadows and low-light scenes reveal sensor size limitations in noise and detail retention.

Summary of Overall Performance Scores

For a quick overview, here is an aggregate scoring based on key performance criteria:

Both models are rated moderately - good for enthusiasts requiring zoom versatility but not class-leading in image quality or professional features.

Genre-Specific Performance Ratings

To help decide which camera matches your photography interests, here’s a breakdown by genre:

• QX30 ranks higher for wildlife and sports due to zoom and burst rate.
• WB800F performs better in portrait and street contexts thanks to ergonomics and aperture.
• Both tie in travel owing to portability but with noted trade-offs.

Final Recommendations: Matching Camera to Your Creative Journey

Choose Samsung WB800F if you:

• Want a traditional compact with one-piece simplicity and instant usability.
• Value faster manual exposure controls and direct tactile shooting experience.
• Prioritize portrait and street photography in daylight with reasonable low-light capability.
• Desire an integrated flash and HDMI output.

Choose Sony QX30 if you:

• Crave extreme telephoto reach up to 720mm for wildlife or distant subjects.
• Don’t mind tethering your shots to a smartphone app and battery.
• Need 1080p video at 60fps and faster burst rates for capturing action sequences.
• Appreciate NFC for effortless pairing with smartphones.

Final Thoughts

While both the Samsung WB800F and Sony QX30 are compact superzoom cameras, they embrace fundamentally different philosophies - the WB800F leans on simplicity and tried-and-true compact camera ergonomics, while the QX30 innovates as a lens-style add-on reliant on smartphone integration.

For the typical photography enthusiast, the WB800F is likely the more reliable and friendly stepping stone into superzoom photography with fast access to controls and a built-in screen. The QX30 offers intriguing long-range zoom power but sacrifices standalone independence and ease of use.

I recommend you try them hands-on if possible to see which fits your shooting style and creative workflow best. Pair the WB800F with a solid SD card and consider quick carriers to optimize portability. If the QX30’s connectivity intrigues you, check compatibility with your smartphone and prepare for a learning curve adapting to its interface.

By understanding these cameras’ strengths and weaknesses through rigorous feature analysis and practical testing insights, you’ll make a choice that not only meets your immediate needs but supports your growth and expression as a photographer. Happy shooting!