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Olympus VR-340 vs Samsung HZ15W

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus VR-340 front
 
Samsung HZ15W front
Portability
90
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Olympus VR-340 vs Samsung HZ15W Key Specs

Olympus VR-340
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.0-5.7) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Released January 2012
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
  • Alternate Name is WB550
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Olympus VR-340 vs Samsung HZ15W Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus VR-340 vs Samsung HZ15W, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Olympus and Samsung. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the VR-340 (16MP) and HZ15W (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The VR-340 was brought out 2 years after the HZ15W which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the VR-340 scores against the HZ15W in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Samsung HZ15W

 VR-340 HZ15W 
IntroducedJanuary 2012February 2009Newer by 36 months

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Olympus VR-340

 HZ15W VR-340 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus VR-340 and Samsung HZ15W

 VR-340 HZ15W 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus VR-340 vs Samsung HZ15W Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus VR-340 provides outer measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Samsung HZ15W has proportions of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VR-340 vs Samsung HZ15W in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the VR-340 vs the HZ15W.

Olympus VR-340 vs Samsung HZ15W size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the VR-340 and HZ15W is 96 and 90 respectively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Samsung HZ15W top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Samsung HZ15W Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The image here will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the VR-340 and HZ15W.

As you can see, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Olympus VR-340 to offer you more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern VR-340 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus VR-340 vs Samsung HZ15W sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-340 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Portrait photography highlights
Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography highlights
34
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
32
you can focus manually
has face detect focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Street photography camera
Samsung HZ15W as a Street photography camera
63
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (125g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
53
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (249 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Sports photography information
Samsung HZ15W Sports photography information
44
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Travel photography information
Samsung HZ15W Travel photography information
69
lighter than average (125 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
54
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (249 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Landscape photography factors
Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography factors
43
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
41
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Vlogging highlights
Samsung HZ15W Vlogging highlights
33
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
lighter than average (125g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone socket
29
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (249g)
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Olympus VR-340 vs Samsung HZ15W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-340 and Samsung HZ15W
 Olympus VR-340Samsung HZ15W
General Information
Make Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus VR-340 Samsung HZ15W
Also called as - WB550
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-01-10 2009-02-23
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) 24-240mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.7 f/3.3-5.8
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 16 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.80 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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 gr (0.28 pounds) 249 gr (0.55 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 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 ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $130 $330