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Olympus E-30 vs Samsung HZ15W

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Samsung HZ15W front
Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32

Olympus E-30 vs Samsung HZ15W Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Introduced March 2009
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
  • Additionally referred to as WB550
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Olympus E-30 vs Samsung HZ15W Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-30 and Samsung HZ15W, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Samsung. The image resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the HZ15W (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and HZ15W (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-30 was introduced about the same time to the HZ15W so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-30 grades against the HZ15W with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Samsung HZ15W

 E-30 HZ15W 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Olympus E-30

 HZ15W E-30 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Samsung HZ15W

 E-30 HZ15W 
IntroducedMarch 2009February 2009Similar age
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus E-30 vs Samsung HZ15W Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-30 offers external dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Samsung HZ15W has sizing of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-30 and Samsung HZ15W in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-30 vs the HZ15W.

Olympus E-30 vs Samsung HZ15W size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and HZ15W is 60 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Samsung HZ15W top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Samsung HZ15W Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading through technical specs. The pic here might give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and HZ15W.

As you can tell, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-30 offers the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler.

Olympus E-30 vs Samsung HZ15W sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography information
Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography information
59
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
31
you can focus manually
has face detection focusing
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-30
Street photography with Samsung HZ15W
72
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than competition (249g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography features
Samsung HZ15W Sports photography features
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (5.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery life (750 per charge)
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography factors
Samsung HZ15W Travel photography factors
49
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse mode
low battery life (750 CIPA)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
54
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (249g)
low resolution (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography features
Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography features
52
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery life (750 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
40
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging details
Samsung HZ15W Vlogging details
18
no video
28
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
heavier than competition (249g)
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Olympus E-30 vs Samsung HZ15W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Samsung HZ15W
 Olympus E-30Samsung HZ15W
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus E-30 Samsung HZ15W
Otherwise known as - WB550
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-03-24 2009-02-23
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-240mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.8
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 16s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 4.70 m
Flash modes Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lb) 249 gr (0.55 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $1,299 $330