Olympus XZ-1 vs Samsung HZ15W: A Hands-On Comparative Review of Compact Cameras for Enthusiasts

In the realm of small sensor compact cameras, choices abound, each promising a blend of portability and image quality. Today, I'm diving deep into two contenders from the early 2010s that still intrigue enthusiasts seeking budget-friendly yet capable shooters: the Olympus XZ-1 and the Samsung HZ15W (also known as the Samsung WB550 in some markets). Both cameras tout fixed zoom lenses, manual control options, and compact bodies designed for those who want more than smartphone snapshots without the bulk of DSLRs or mirrorless systems.

Having extensively field-tested both models, plus reviewed hundreds of small sensor compacts over the years, I am eager to share what these two bring to the table in 2024. Our discussion traverses sensor tech, ergonomics, autofocus, real-world performance across genres, video capabilities, and more - all distilled to empower your purchasing decision, whether you are a casual shooter or a serious hobbyist.

Let’s begin by looking at how these two stack up physically and ergonomically.

Handling and Ergonomics: Compactness Meets Usability

When it comes to small sensor compacts, how a camera feels in the hand profoundly influences your shooting experience. This goes beyond mere size - button layout, grip comfort, and viewfinder options make a world of difference during extended use.

Both the Olympus XZ-1 and Samsung HZ15W share the compact philosophy with pocketable bodies, but subtle differences deserve mention. The XZ-1 measures 111x65x42 mm and weighs 275g, whereas the HZ15W is slightly smaller at 105x61x37 mm and lighter at 249g. While this difference may seem marginal, the XZ-1’s slightly chunkier profile translates into a more confident grip, particularly when shooting with one hand or in challenging conditions.

Handling-wise, the XZ-1 features an aluminum body with a textured grip patch on the right, reminiscent of more premium compacts from Olympus. This design makes manual focusing and zooming feel more tactile and precise. The HZ15W’s smooth plastic shell, while attractive and clean, tends to feel a bit slippery, especially for users with larger hands.

Ergonomics start to diverge significantly when exploring controls:

The XZ-1 shines with dedicated exposure mode dials (including shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure), an intuitive zoom ring around the lens barrel, and tactile buttons for ISO, white balance, and drive modes. The presence of a hot shoe also means external flashes are supported - a rarity in this class.

In contrast, the Samsung HZ15W offers more automated operation with minimal manual controls. It lacks the traditional exposure mode dial, limiting users to more basic shooting modes. The lens zoom is driven by a toggle - a design that can feel sluggish for photographers who’d prefer rapid framing adjustments. No hot shoe and fewer external buttons reinforce its status as a point-and-shoot optimized for casual shooters.

While the HZ15W’s smaller size appeals to those prioritizing pocketability, the XZ-1’s superior control layout and ergonomics offer a more rewarding hands-on experience, especially for those accustomed to manual photographic techniques.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

A camera’s sensor and processing algorithms largely dictate image quality, arguably the most critical feature aside from lens performance.

The Olympus XZ-1 employs a 1/1.63” CCD sensor with 10 megapixels (3664x2752 resolution), while the Samsung HZ15W sports a smaller 1/2.3” CCD sensor but with a slightly higher 12 megapixels (4000x3000 resolution).

At first glance, the Samsung’s higher pixel count seems an advantage. However, pixel density and sensor size interactions complicate this simplistic view. The larger Olympus sensor area (44.87 mm²) allows bigger individual photosites compared to Samsung’s 27.72 mm² sensor, typically translating to better light gathering, cleaner images, and improved dynamic range.

Testing charts and real-world scenes confirm this intuition. The XZ-1 delivers cleaner ISO 100–800 images with richer color depth, smoother tonal graduations, and better highlight retention. Olympus’s TruePic V image processor helps keep noise in check and preserve detail, especially in well-lit scenarios.

The Samsung’s sensor struggles moderately beyond ISO 400, revealing noticeable luminance noise and softer details. The smaller sensor size amplifies noise in low light and reduces dynamic range, affecting shadow rendering in high-contrast scenes.

Importance of sensor tech aside, lens quality plays a key role:

• Olympus XZ-1 Lens: 28-112 mm equivalent focal length (4x zoom) with bright apertures ranging from f/1.8 at the wide end to f/2.5 at telephoto. This relatively fast aperture enables better low light capture and more creative depth of field control.
• Samsung HZ15W Lens: 24-240 mm equivalent focal length (10x zoom) with slower apertures from f/3.3 to f/5.8. The extensive zoom reach is attractive but comes at the price of diminished brightness and potential diffraction softness at longer focal lengths.

Olympus XZ 1 front Olympus XZ 1 screen back Samsung HZ15W front Samsung HZ15W screen back

Examining side-by-side sample images, the Olympus’s lens sharpness and bokeh quality excel, especially for portraits and close-ups. The Samsung compensates with wide focal length coverage for landscapes and telephoto work but can appear softer and noisier under challenging conditions.

Autofocus and Speed: Critical for Fast Action and Precision

Autofocus performance can frustrate or delight depending on your shooting niche.

The XZ-1 features 11 contrast-detection focus points with face detection and an advanced tracking mode. Its AF speed is decent for the class - locking focus reliably in well-lit environments, although it can hunt in low light due to the lack of phase detection.

Conversely, the HZ15W provides a more basic contrast-detection autofocus with single center-point and multi-area options but no tracking capability. Face detection is present but less refined.

Continuous shooting rates swing in favor of the Olympus at 2 fps - modest but available - while the Samsung doesn’t list continuous shooting specs, reflecting its casual intent.

For wildlife or sports photography, neither camera is ideal. However, the Olympus’s slightly faster, more precise AF and exposure control modes give it a palpable edge when timing matters. The Samsung is more suited for static subjects or general snapshots.

Screen and Viewfinder: Eyes on Usability

Both cameras have fixed 3-inch LCDs but differ in quality and usability:

The Olympus XZ-1’s OLED screen offers higher resolution (614k dots) and vibrant color reproduction, with better contrast in bright light. The Samsung’s LCD (460k dots) shows washed-out colors in direct sunlight, thwarting framing and review usability outdoors.

Neither camera includes built-in electronic viewfinders, though Olympus offers an optional EVF accessory for the XZ-1. This is a notable omission for photographers who prefer eye-level shooting in glare conditions.

Button layouts around the screen also favor Olympus, with shortcut buttons for exposure lock, ISO, and menu access enhancing quick settings adjustments.

Build Quality and Durability: What Lies Beneath the Surface?

Neither camera boasts weather sealing or ruggedized construction. However, build materials and tactile feedback differ markedly.

Olympus champions an aluminum alloy body with solid feel and responsive buttons. Samsung’s plastic shell, while well-assembled, flexes slightly under pressure. For outdoor use in variable conditions, I’d trust the Olympus’s construction to endure better over time.

If rough travel or unpredictable weather are concerns, I would recommend pairing either with protective covers or consider more robust models altogether.

Versatility Across Photography Genres: Who Shines Where?

To cater to the diverse ways photographers use their gear, I’ll break down performance across the most popular genres.

Portrait Photography

Portraits demand pleasing skin tones, sharp eyes, and smooth bokeh.

• Olympus XZ-1: The fast f/1.8 lens creates attractive subject separation with creamy backgrounds uncommon for compacts. Face detection works reliably, assisting autofocus. Color rendition is natural, with good control over skin tone warmth, thanks to manual white balance and exposure modes.
• Samsung HZ15W: Limited by narrower apertures (f/3.3 minimum) and less consistent autofocus. Bokeh is much harsher, and skin tones can appear flat or slightly undersaturated.

Verdict: Clearly the XZ-1 wins here for portrait enthusiasts.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters value high resolution, dynamic range, and durable build.

• Olympus XZ-1: Strong dynamic range (~10 EV), higher bit-depth (18.8 color depth on DXO), and sharpness help capture mountains and cityscapes with realistic tonal transitions. Exposure bracketing is absent but compensated somewhat by manual controls.
• Samsung HZ15W: Larger zoom range helps frame expansive vistas or compressed telephoto shots but sacrifices image quality in RAW absence and dynamic range. Limited exposure modes restrict creative control.

For landscapes, the Olympus’s sensor edge and lens quality make it preferable, especially when shooting RAW to maximize post-processing latitude.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Demands fast autofocus, high frame rates, and telephoto reach.

• Olympus XZ-1: Moderate zoom range and 2 fps continuous shooting are limiting factors. AF tracking is present but basic. Best for casual wildlife glimpses rather than serious tracking.
• Samsung HZ15W: 10x zoom (24-240mm) is attractive but hampered by slower aperture and no continuous shooting. AF feel less responsive.

Neither excels for professional action work, but Samsung’s extended zoom offers more framing flexibility.

Street and Travel Photography

Portability, low light performance, and discretion matter.

• Olympus XZ-1: Heavier but better low light ISO performance and quicker manual controls. The camera’s presence is noticeable but manageable.
• Samsung HZ15W: Smaller, lighter, and quieter operation ideal for street candid shots. Limited manual control may frustrate advanced users.

Overall, Samsung’s compactness suits travel and street contexts, while Olympus offers more creative options at a slight portability tradeoff.

Macro Photography

Close-up sharpness and focusing matter most.

• Olympus XZ-1: Impressive 1 cm macro range with f/1.8 aperture allows sharp and bright close-ups.
• Samsung HZ15W: 5 cm minimum focus distance less flexible for fine macro details.

For macro enthusiasts, Olympus is the clear winner.

Night and Astrophotography

High ISO and long exposure capabilities critical.

• Olympus XZ-1: Handles ISO 800 reasonably with manageable noise, sensor-shift stabilization aids night shots. Long exposures up to 60 seconds supported.
• Samsung HZ15W: ISO max 3200 but noisy; min shutter speed 1/16 sec limits long exposures.

Benefit here also leans heavily to Olympus.

Video Capabilities

Both offer 720p HD video but with limited features:

• Olympus XZ-1: 1280x720 at 30fps, Motion JPEG compression.
• Samsung HZ15W: Same max resolution but lower frame rate options (15–30fps) and also Motion JPEG.

Neither has microphone inputs or advanced stabilization for video, reducing their appeal for serious filmmakers.

Professional and Workflow Considerations

• Olympus supports RAW capture allowing greater post-editing flexibility; Samsung does not.
• USB 2.0 and HDMI present on both.
• Olympus’s battery life rated for about 320 shots per charge, Samsung’s official numbers not listed but generally shorter due to smaller battery.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery Life

Neither camera includes wireless features like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, reflecting their release era. Both rely on single SD card slots though Samsung adds MMC/MMCplus compatibility - somewhat archaic by today’s standards.

The Olympus’s removable Li-ion battery (Li-50B) lasts about 320 shots per charge - adequate but not stellar. Samsung’s battery details are sparse, but users report more frequent charging.

Price-to-Performance Analysis: Value for Money

At current second-hand market prices (Olympus around $570 and Samsung approximately $330 when new or via legacy stock), the Olympus commands a premium justified by its superior image quality, build, and manual controls.

The Samsung appeals to budget buyers seeking more zoom reach in a small camera with straightforward operation - less demanding in terms of learning curve.

Summary Table: Strengths & Weaknesses

Final Recommendations: Which One Is Right for You?

For the enthusiast photographer who prioritizes image quality, manual controls, better low light performance, and is willing to trade pocket size for superior handling and versatility, the Olympus XZ-1 remains a compelling option - even more so if you want to shoot RAW or engage in creative portrait and macro work.

By contrast, if you want an affordable, lightweight, and simplified camera with a very long zoom range suitable for travel, street photography, and casual snapshots, and can live without advanced manual controls and RAW files, the Samsung HZ15W is a reasonable choice.

Closing Thoughts: A Tale of Two Compacts

After years of reviewing compact cameras, I find that the Olympus XZ-1 encapsulates the transitional era when manufacturers sought to combine DSLR-like manual controls in a pocketable format without a mirrorless or interchangeable lens design. Its sensor and lens pairing still produce respectable images, and the user experience remains satisfying for enthusiasts.

The Samsung HZ15W leans more into the “point-and-shoot for all” category, with its extended zoom range as its standout feature. However, compromises in sensor performance and controls show that the camera is aimed at casual users less concerned with image fidelity or advanced operation.

Whatever your choice, both cameras serve as reminders that even modest compacts can surprise with quality and features - a balancing act that remains the core challenge for manufacturers today.

I hope this detailed comparison helps you see beyond the specs sheets and into the nitty-gritty nuances revealed only through hands-on testing. Happy shooting!