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Pentax RS1500 vs Samsung HZ30W

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
30
Overall
33
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
 
Samsung HZ30W front
Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36

Pentax RS1500 vs Samsung HZ30W Key Specs

Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released March 2011
Samsung HZ30W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-360mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 245g - 107 x 61 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Other Name is WB600
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Pentax RS1500 vs Samsung HZ30W Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Pentax RS1500 versus Samsung HZ30W, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Pentax and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the RS1500 (14MP) and the HZ30W (12MP) is very well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The RS1500 was unveiled 15 months after the HZ30W making them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a quick overview of how the RS1500 grades against the HZ30W when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Samsung HZ30W

 RS1500 HZ30W 
RevealedMarch 2011January 2010More modern by 15 months

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ30W over the Pentax RS1500

 HZ30W RS1500 
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Pentax RS1500 and Samsung HZ30W

 RS1500 HZ30W 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Pentax RS1500 vs Samsung HZ30W Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax RS1500 has external measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Samsung HZ30W has sizing of 107mm x 61mm x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

See the Pentax RS1500 versus Samsung HZ30W in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the RS1500 compared to the HZ30W.

Pentax RS1500 vs Samsung HZ30W size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the RS1500 and HZ30W is 93 and 91 respectively.

Pentax RS1500 vs Samsung HZ30W top view buttons comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Samsung HZ30W Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading through technical specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the RS1500 and HZ30W.

As you can tell, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Pentax RS1500 to give you more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more modern RS1500 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax RS1500 vs Samsung HZ30W sensor size comparison

Pentax RS1500 vs Samsung HZ30W Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RS1500 vs Samsung HZ30W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography advice
Samsung HZ30W Portrait photography advice
34
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
28
focusing manually
no external flash support
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Street photography factors
Samsung HZ30W Street photography factors
54
weather sealing
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (245 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Sports photography info
Samsung HZ30W Sports photography info
36
good megapixels (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
42
incredible zoom range (24-360mm 15.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax RS1500 Travel photography highlights
Samsung HZ30W Travel photography highlights
67
weather sealing
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
63
lighter than average (245g)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (360mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax RS1500 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung HZ30W as a Landscape photography camera
40
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse mode
42
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax RS1500
Vlogging with Samsung HZ30W
25
relatively wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone port
30
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (245g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
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Pentax RS1500 vs Samsung HZ30W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RS1500 and Samsung HZ30W
 Pentax Optio RS1500Samsung HZ30W
General Information
Company Pentax Samsung
Model type Pentax Optio RS1500 Samsung HZ30W
Also called - WB600
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-03-16 2010-01-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-110mm (3.9x) 24-360mm (15.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 16 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.90 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 157 gr (0.35 lb) 245 gr (0.54 lb)
Physical dimensions 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") 107 x 61 x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 SLB-11A
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double, Motion)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SC/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $150 $280