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Olympus E-M1 vs Samsung HZ15W

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Samsung HZ15W front
Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32

Olympus E-M1 vs Samsung HZ15W Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Successor is Olympus E-M1 II
Samsung HZ15W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 249g - 105 x 61 x 37mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Alternate Name is WB550
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Olympus E-M1 vs Samsung HZ15W Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-M1 versus Samsung HZ15W, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Samsung. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and HZ15W (12MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and HZ15W (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was launched 4 years later than the HZ15W and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-M1 grades vs the HZ15W in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Samsung HZ15W

 E-M1 HZ15W 
AnnouncedOctober 2013February 2009Fresher by 57 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Olympus E-M1

 HZ15W E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Samsung HZ15W

 E-M1 HZ15W 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Samsung HZ15W Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 enjoys exterior dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 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 the Olympus E-M1 versus Samsung HZ15W in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-M1 vs the HZ15W.

Olympus E-M1 vs Samsung HZ15W size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and HZ15W is 71 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Samsung HZ15W top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Samsung HZ15W Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to see the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading through specifications. The graphic below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and HZ15W.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 because of its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 will give more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos much more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Samsung HZ15W sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography details
Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/320s)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
saves RAW files
31
you can focus manually
supports face detect focusing
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography highlights
Samsung HZ15W Street photography highlights
78
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features touch to focus
weather proofing
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
above average high ISO (25,600)
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
heavier than others in class (249g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography details
Samsung HZ15W Sports photography details
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
bad battery (350 shots)
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography information
Samsung HZ15W Travel photography information
65
lighter than competition in class (497g)
weather proofing
features touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
bad battery (350 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
54
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (249g)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography info
Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography info
73
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
bad battery (350 per charge)
40
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging advice
Samsung HZ15W Vlogging advice
36
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic socket
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
28
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic jack
heavier than others in class (249 grams)
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Olympus E-M1 vs Samsung HZ15W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Samsung HZ15W
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Samsung HZ15W
General Information
Brand Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Samsung HZ15W
Also called - WB550
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-10-28 2009-02-23
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-240mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.8
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 16 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.70 m
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (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 data format H.264, Motion JPEG 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 None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497g (1.10 pounds) 249g (0.55 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $799 $330