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Canon S120 vs Samsung HZ15W

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Samsung HZ15W front
Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32

Canon S120 vs Samsung HZ15W Key Specs

Canon S120
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F1.8-5.7) lens
  • 217g - 100 x 59 x 29mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Superseded the Canon S110
Samsung HZ15W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 249g - 105 x 61 x 37mm
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Alternative Name is WB550
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Canon S120 vs Samsung HZ15W Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Canon S120 vs Samsung HZ15W, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Samsung. The resolution of the S120 (12MP) and the HZ15W (12MP) is pretty well matched but the S120 (1/1.7") and HZ15W (1/2.3") provide different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The S120 was announced 4 years later than the HZ15W and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a brief summation of how the S120 grades versus the HZ15W when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Samsung HZ15W

 S120 HZ15W 
IntroducedNovember 2013February 2009Fresher by 58 months
Screen resolution922k460kCrisper screen (+462k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Canon S120

 HZ15W S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Samsung HZ15W

 S120 HZ15W 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Canon S120 vs Samsung HZ15W Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon S120 features outside dimensions of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) whilst the Samsung HZ15W has measurements of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check out the Canon S120 vs Samsung HZ15W in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the S120 and the HZ15W.

Canon S120 vs Samsung HZ15W size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the S120 and HZ15W is 92 and 90 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Samsung HZ15W top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Samsung HZ15W Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizing simply by checking specs. The visual underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the S120 and HZ15W.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have the same MP albeit different sensor sizing. The S120 has the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow depth of field less difficult. The fresher S120 should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon S120 vs Samsung HZ15W sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S120 Portrait photography details
Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography details
42
has manual focus
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
31
you can focus manually
includes face detect autofocus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon S120 as a Street photography camera
Samsung HZ15W as a Street photography camera
65
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
supports touch focus
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition in class (217 grams)
52
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than competition (249 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon S120
Sports photography with Samsung HZ15W
38
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
27
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S120 as a Travel photography camera
Samsung HZ15W as a Travel photography camera
67
supports touch focus
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
more heavy than competition in class (217 grams)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
54
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (249g)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S120 Landscape photography info
Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography info
57
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
40
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S120 as a Vlogging camera
Samsung HZ15W as a Vlogging camera
35
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (217g)
28
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic jack
heavier than competition (249g)
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Canon S120 vs Samsung HZ15W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Samsung HZ15W
 Canon PowerShot S120Samsung HZ15W
General Information
Make Canon Samsung
Model Canon PowerShot S120 Samsung HZ15W
Also Known as - WB550
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-11-26 2009-02-23
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-240mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/3.3-5.8
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 922k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 16 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m 4.70 m
Flash settings Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 or 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 217 grams (0.48 lb) 249 grams (0.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.9 not tested
DXO Low light score 246 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $449 $330