Clicky

Pentax RZ18 vs Samsung HZ15W

Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
 
Samsung HZ15W front
Portability
90
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Pentax RZ18 vs Samsung HZ15W Key Specs

Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Launched September 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
  • Released February 2009
  • Also Known as WB550
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Pentax RZ18 vs Samsung HZ15W Overview

Let's look more closely at the Pentax RZ18 versus Samsung HZ15W, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Pentax and Samsung. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the RZ18 (16MP) and HZ15W (12MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The RZ18 was introduced 2 years later than the HZ15W and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the RZ18 grades vs the HZ15W for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Samsung HZ15W

 RZ18 HZ15W 
ReleasedSeptember 2011February 2009Fresher by 32 months

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Pentax RZ18

 HZ15W RZ18 

Common features in the Pentax RZ18 and Samsung HZ15W

 RZ18 HZ15W 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Pentax RZ18 vs Samsung HZ15W Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax RZ18 has got exterior measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Samsung HZ15W has measurements of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Look at the Pentax RZ18 versus Samsung HZ15W in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the RZ18 vs the HZ15W.

Pentax RZ18 vs Samsung HZ15W size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the RZ18 and HZ15W is 92 and 90 respectively.

Pentax RZ18 vs Samsung HZ15W top view buttons comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Samsung HZ15W Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by going over specifications. The photograph underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the RZ18 and HZ15W.

To sum up, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can count on the Pentax RZ18 to offer you greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The younger RZ18 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax RZ18 vs Samsung HZ15W sensor size comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RZ18 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RZ18 as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung HZ15W as a Portrait photography camera
36
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
32
manual focus
provides face detection focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Street photography details
Samsung HZ15W Street photography details
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lighter than average (178g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
53
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than others in class (249 grams)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax RZ18
Sports photography with Samsung HZ15W
47
great zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Travel photography highlights
Samsung HZ15W Travel photography highlights
71
lighter than average (178g)
weather proofing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (450mm)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
54
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than others in class (249g)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Pentax RZ18 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung HZ15W as a Landscape photography camera
49
focusing manually
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse recording
41
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
Samsung HZ15W as a Vlogging camera
30
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (178g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
29
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than others in class (249g)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Pentax RZ18 vs Samsung HZ15W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RZ18 and Samsung HZ15W
 Pentax Optio RZ18Samsung HZ15W
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Samsung
Model Pentax Optio RZ18 Samsung HZ15W
Also called - WB550
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-09-12 2009-02-23
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-450mm (18.0x) 24-240mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.3-5.8
Macro focus distance 4cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 16 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 2.80 m 4.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 178 grams (0.39 pounds) 249 grams (0.55 pounds)
Physical dimensions 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model D-LI92 -
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 1 1
Launch pricing $210 $330