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Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung HZ15W

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Samsung HZ15W front
Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung HZ15W Key Specs

Pentax XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Launched July 2014
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
  • Revealed February 2009
  • Additionally referred to as WB550
Photography Glossary

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung HZ15W Overview

Following is a detailed review of the Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung HZ15W, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Samsung. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the XG-1 (16MP) and HZ15W (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The XG-1 was unveiled 5 years after the HZ15W which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the XG-1 matches up versus the HZ15W with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Samsung HZ15W

 XG-1 HZ15W 
RevealedJuly 2014February 2009More modern by 66 months

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Pentax XG-1

 HZ15W XG-1 

Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Samsung HZ15W

 XG-1 HZ15W 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung HZ15W Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax XG-1 has got exterior dimensions of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") with a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) while the Samsung HZ15W has sizing of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung HZ15W in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the XG-1 vs the HZ15W.

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung HZ15W size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the XG-1 and HZ15W is 66 and 90 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung HZ15W top view buttons comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung HZ15W Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture here should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the XG-1 and HZ15W.

As you can see, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can expect to see the Pentax XG-1 to offer extra detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The fresher XG-1 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung HZ15W sensor size comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography factors
Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography factors
40
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
31
focusing manually
includes face detection autofocus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Street photography features
Samsung HZ15W Street photography features
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (567g)
52
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than others (249g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Sports photography advice
Samsung HZ15W Sports photography advice
45
long zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (240 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
27
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax XG-1 as a Travel photography camera
Samsung HZ15W as a Travel photography camera
52
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1248mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (240 CIPA)
more heavy than competition in class (567g)
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
54
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than others (249g)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Landscape photography factors
Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography factors
45
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
not so great battery life (240 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
40
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Vlogging factors
Samsung HZ15W Vlogging factors
25
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (567g)
28
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than others (249 grams)
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Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung HZ15W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Samsung HZ15W
 Pentax XG-1Samsung HZ15W
General Information
Make Pentax Samsung
Model type Pentax XG-1 Samsung HZ15W
Otherwise known as - WB550
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-07-15 2009-02-23
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1248mm (52.0x) 24-240mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.6 f/3.3-5.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 200k dots -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 16 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 4.70 m
Flash modes Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 567 grams (1.25 pounds) 249 grams (0.55 pounds)
Dimensions 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") 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 240 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID LB-060 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $599 $330