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Olympus SZ-10 vs Samsung HZ15W

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Samsung HZ15W front
Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32

Olympus SZ-10 vs Samsung HZ15W Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Introduced February 2011
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
  • Revealed February 2009
  • Additionally referred to as WB550
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-10 vs Samsung HZ15W Overview

Following is a thorough analysis of the Olympus SZ-10 versus Samsung HZ15W, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the HZ15W (12MP) is pretty close and they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-10 was unveiled 24 months after the HZ15W which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a concise overview of how the SZ-10 scores versus the HZ15W in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Samsung HZ15W

 SZ-10 HZ15W 
RevealedFebruary 2011February 2009More modern by 24 months

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Olympus SZ-10

 HZ15W SZ-10 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Samsung HZ15W

 SZ-10 HZ15W 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus SZ-10 vs Samsung HZ15W Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-10 has exterior dimensions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Samsung HZ15W has proportions of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-10 versus Samsung HZ15W in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the SZ-10 against the HZ15W.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Samsung HZ15W size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-10 and HZ15W is 90 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Samsung HZ15W top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Samsung HZ15W Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizes purely by viewing specifications. The pic here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-10 and HZ15W.

Plainly, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Olympus SZ-10 to result in greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The younger SZ-10 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Samsung HZ15W sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-10
Portrait photography with Samsung HZ15W
33
MP count good (14MP)
has face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
31
you can focus manually
offers face detection autofocus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-10
Street photography with Samsung HZ15W
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (215 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
52
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
heavier than competition (249 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography highlights
Samsung HZ15W Sports photography highlights
40
excellent zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
27
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Travel photography highlights
Samsung HZ15W Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competitors (215g)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
long zoom (504mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
54
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (249g)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Landscape photography info
Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography info
40
quite wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
40
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Vlogging details
Samsung HZ15W Vlogging details
31
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors (215 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone port
28
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic support
heavier than competition (249g)
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Samsung HZ15W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Samsung HZ15W
 Olympus SZ-10Samsung HZ15W
General Information
Company Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus SZ-10 Samsung HZ15W
Alternate name - WB550
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-08 2009-02-23
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-504mm (18.0x) 24-240mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-4.4 f/3.3-5.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 16 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.10 m 4.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 215g (0.47 lbs) 249g (0.55 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $300 $330