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Panasonic FH8 vs Samsung HZ15W

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
 
Samsung HZ15W front
Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32

Panasonic FH8 vs Samsung HZ15W Key Specs

Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
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
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Alternative Name is WB550
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Panasonic FH8 vs Samsung HZ15W Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Panasonic FH8 vs Samsung HZ15W, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Panasonic and Samsung. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the FH8 (16MP) and HZ15W (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The FH8 was introduced 2 years later than the HZ15W and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the FH8 grades versus the HZ15W for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Samsung HZ15W

 FH8 HZ15W 
IntroducedJanuary 2012February 2009Fresher by 35 months

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Panasonic FH8

 HZ15W FH8 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH8 and Samsung HZ15W

 FH8 HZ15W 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic FH8 vs Samsung HZ15W Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH8 enjoys physical measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Samsung HZ15W has dimensions of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FH8 vs Samsung HZ15W in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the FH8 vs the HZ15W.

Panasonic FH8 vs Samsung HZ15W size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the FH8 and HZ15W is 96 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic FH8 vs Samsung HZ15W top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Samsung HZ15W Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing simply by seeing a spec sheet. The visual below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the FH8 and HZ15W.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Panasonic FH8 to show greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more modern FH8 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH8 vs Samsung HZ15W sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH8 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH8 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung HZ15W as a Portrait photography camera
34
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
31
manual focus
supports face detect focusing
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Street photography camera
Samsung HZ15W as a Street photography camera
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (123 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
52
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competition (249g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Sports photography features
Samsung HZ15W Sports photography features
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
27
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH8 Travel photography advice
Samsung HZ15W Travel photography advice
69
lighter than competition (123g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
54
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (249 grams)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FH8
Landscape photography with Samsung HZ15W
43
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Timelapse function
40
manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH8 as a Vlogging camera
Samsung HZ15W as a Vlogging camera
33
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than competition (123g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
28
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic port
heavier than competition (249 grams)
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Panasonic FH8 vs Samsung HZ15W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH8 and Samsung HZ15W
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8Samsung HZ15W
General Information
Make Panasonic Samsung
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 Samsung HZ15W
Also referred to as - WB550
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-01-09 2009-02-23
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-240mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/2.5-6.4 f/3.3-5.8
Macro focusing range 4cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 16 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 4.70 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 123g (0.27 lb) 249g (0.55 lb)
Physical 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 All around 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 260 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $149 $330