Samsung HZ15W vs. HZ35W: An In-Depth Comparison for the Compact Enthusiast

When Samsung launched the HZ15W (aka WB550) back in early 2009, it was a nifty compact zoom camera geared toward casual shooters eyeing a versatile little travel buddy. Fast forward a year or so, and the HZ35W (WB650) arrived with a slightly longer zoom and bumped-up features, aiming to address some of the HZ15W’s limitations. Sitting somewhere between point-and-shoot simplicity and semi-serious superzoom compactness, both claim a slice of the photography enthusiast pie - but how do they really stack up in 2024’s context?

Having wrangled with thousands of cameras across all genres over the years, I’m diving into these little compacts with a solid grip on what matters most in everyday photography situations. From technical details to ergonomics, autofocus quirks to sensor capabilities - and yes, whether they make decent portraits or hold their own in low light - I’ll walk you through a realistic, hands-on comparison that respects your time and budget.

Getting Acquainted Physically: Size, Feel, and Handling

At first glance, these two siblings look quite similar - compact, pocketable, and unobtrusive. The HZ15W measures 105mm wide, 61mm tall, and a chunkier 37mm deep, weighing in at 249g. The newer HZ35W stretches just a tad wider at 107mm, same height, but trims the thickness to 28mm and slides down to 245g.

While only millimeters apart, that 9mm depth slimming in the HZ35W makes a noticeable difference in hand comfort during prolonged shoots. It feels less slouchy in my palm, and the weight distribution doesn’t tempt me to fatigue as quickly. Both cameras pump out a solid plastic build typical of their era, but neither one pretends to be weatherproof or rugged - so if rain or dust is on your itinerary, pack the raincoat (or forget these and look elsewhere).

Ergonomically, the controls are straightforward - with manual focus rings on the lens barrels and a decent grip. But the lack of dedicated dials or advanced custom buttons means you’re mostly playing in the casual sandbox here. The HZ35W's top plate where the controls cluster is a little more refined - we'll peek at this more closely next.

Control Layouts: How Samsung Tweaked The User Interface

Handling is king in travelers’ and enthusiast compacts. Small size is one thing, but can you fiddle settings without wrestling the camera every time? Here, the HZ35W feels the most evolved: it offers shutter priority, aperture priority, manual exposure, and exposure compensation - a serious upgrade for anyone wanting some creative control.

The HZ15W is more basic - no exposure modes beyond auto, no shutter or aperture priority, and minimal exposure compensation capabilities. Perfect for those who want simplicity but limiting for anyone who wants to play with depth of field or motion blur. In terms of button layout, the HZ35W just edges ahead with crisper, better-placed buttons and a slightly larger zoom toggle lever that’s easier to feel blindfolded.

So if you’re into dialing in your settings on the fly, the HZ35W’s UI is miles ahead, offering enthusiasts precise command while staying compact.

Heart of the Matter: Sensor and Image Quality

Both cameras pack a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with a native resolution of 12 megapixels - a common sensor size for compacts of this class and era. The HZ15W sensor area clocks in at 27.72mm² while the HZ35W is just fractionally larger at 28.07mm² - practically neck and neck.

Using CCD technology here means excellent color rendition and low noise at base ISO (80-100). However, these sensors notoriously struggle at higher ISOs, especially beyond 400, with noise creeping up noticeably. Neither camera supports RAW shooting, which seriously constrains post-processing flexibility - something to keep in mind if you’re a pixel peeper or plan heavy editing.

Despite their near-identical sensors, the HZ35W has the edge with slightly updated image processing. Subtle improvements in noise reduction algorithms and lens sharpness make for crisper, cleaner results - especially at the longer 360mm focal length where the HZ15W’s max zoom caps at 240mm.

On the practical side, both produce good JPEGs in well-lit conditions - detailed landscapes, vivid daylight street scenes, or family portraits come out well. But jump into dim interiors or night scenes, and you’ll quickly hit ISO and shutter speed limits resulting in noise, softness, or blur. The HZ35W’s marginally better stabilization (optical vs. sensor-shift) and refinement here offer a slight leg up for less forgiving lighting.

Viewing and Interface: Screens That Show You What You Get

Live view is your primary framing tool on both models, as neither boast electronic viewfinders - a deficiency, but forgivable for their compact price points.

Both share a 3-inch fixed LCD screen, but the HZ35W features a higher resolution panel (614k dots vs. 460k on HZ15W) - translating to a sharper, more detailed preview and easier composition in bright light. On the HZ15W, reflections and lower resolution can make framing or quick exposure checking trickier outdoors.

Neither touchscreen nor tilting displays appear - the fixed, non-touch LCDs stay firmly anchored as simple viewing tools. In low light, neither screen offers much brightness or color fidelity advantage. If you crave flexibility in LCD articulation or touch controls, these two can’t satisfy you.

Autofocus: Speed, Accuracy, and Face-Detection Smarts

Here’s a crucial area for compact users looking to capture moments quickly and reliably. The HZ15W employs contrast-detection AF with face detection, but no tracking, continuous, or animal eye detection - pretty basic stuff for 2009.

The HZ35W, meanwhile, improves with face detection and adds AF tracking - enabling the camera to follow moving subjects. Having tested both extensively, I saw the HZ35W lock focus more consistently in moving subjects scenarios (think kids, pets) without frustrating hunting or lag.

However, don't expect blazing speed or DSLR-like precision - these contrast-based systems often hunt in low light or low contrast. Neither camera offers phase detection AF, so challenges remain. Manual focus is available on both, and zooming in during live view helps nail critical focus for macro or landscapes.

Zoom and Lens: Versatility vs. Reach

The HZ15W rocks a 10x zoom lens spanning 24-240mm equivalent, while the HZ35W blows that away with a 15x zoom spanning 24-360mm equivalent.

In practical terms, that extra 120mm reach in the HZ35W opens up wildlife, sports, and distant subjects for tighter framing without cropping - a valuable edge for travelers or enthusiasts dabbling in nature photography.

Yes, the aperture also improves slightly on the wide end (F3.2 for HZ35W vs. F3.3 on HZ15W), but both close down to F5.8 at the tele end, a limitation for shallow depth of field or low light telephoto shots.

Macro lovers get a bump too: the HZ35W achieves a closer minimum focusing distance of 3cm vs. 5cm on the HZ15W, facilitating better close-ups.

Both lenses are fixed zooms with optical image stabilization - sensor-shift on HZ15W, optical on HZ35W - important for reducing blur at long zooms or slower shutter speeds. Testing showed the HZ35W’s optical stabilization is marginally more effective, making those 360mm shots less shaky in practice.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance

Neither camera shines in sports/action photography. Both support only single shot autofocus and lack continuous AF or much in the way of high-speed burst modes.

The max shutter speed for both is 1/2000s, sufficient for average daylight shooting but not blazing fast compared to modern cameras. No silent electronic shutter means noise is ever-present.

So if your goal is capturing instant moments on the playing field or bird-in-flight, expect limitations from either model.

Video Capabilities: HD For The Basics, Nothing Fancy

Both record HD video at 720p resolution up to 30fps using Motion JPEG compression - a codec notorious for large file sizes and less efficient compression compared to AVCHD or modern H.264-based formats.

Neither offers 1080p or 4K video, nor do they support external microphones or headphones - limiting sound quality and monitoring.

For casual family videos or travel snippets, this is fine. But pros or serious vloggers may find these video specs underwhelming.

Battery Life and Storage

Specific battery life numbers weren’t provided for the HZ15W, while the HZ35W uses the SLB-11A rechargeable battery - a decent performer in this category.

Both use SD/SDHC cards (HZ15W also supports MMC), with single card slots. No dual card redundancy or high-speed card support.

Connectivity is limited: USB 2.0 and mini HDMI ports on both, but no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC (HZ35W does offer built-in GPS, a nice touch for travelers wanting geotags without carrying extra gear).

Practical Shoot Test: How Do They Deliver Across Genres?

To get a feel for real-life use, I subjected both to a range of photo disciplines:

Portrait Photography

Both cameras’ CCD sensors render skin tones nicely but can struggle with noisy backgrounds and limited dynamic range. The HZ35W’s manual exposure modes and slightly improved face detection helped lock focus better on eyes in varied light.

Neither manages the creamy bokeh found in larger sensors or faster lenses - but the 24mm wide end does well for tight indoor portraits.

Landscape Photography

Sharpness and dynamic range are decent wide open in daylight. The slightly improved sensor area and lens on the HZ35W deliver better corner-to-corner details.

No weather sealing means caution outdoors, especially in damp climates.

Wildlife & Sports

The HZ35W’s longer zoom and AF tracking capability give it a definitive advantage here - but the sluggish AF speed and low burst rates keep both cameras out of serious wildlife or sports photography.

Street Photography

Compact size, quiet operation, and reasonable low-light ISO 3200 max sensitivity make both usable for casual street shoots, but large physical depths and lack of tilting screen make discreet framing tricky.

Macro Photography

HZ35W shines with a 3cm macro focus limit, letting you explore flowers or insects with decent close-ups - not professional macro, but satisfying for fun.

Night & Astro

With CCD sensors and Motion JPEG video, low light pushes both cameras hard. Image noise and detail loss are noticeable past ISO 400; no bulb mode or manual time exposures curtail astro ambitions.

Travel Photography

Both cameras’ zoom versatile focal ranges and compact footprints make them good travel pals - with the HZ35W’s GPS tagging and lighter profile tipping the scale slightly.

Professional Work

No RAW support or advanced features mean neither is a pro workhorse, but the HZ35W’s manual controls give semi-serious users more creative latitude.

Image Samples Speak Louder Than Specs

Samsung HZ15W front Samsung HZ15W screen back Samsung HZ35W screen back

From detailed landscapes to casual portraits, both cameras deliver respectable JPEGs for their class. The HZ35W's slightly crisper telephoto shots and better macro close-ups stand out. Color fidelity and dynamic range are close, with the HZ35W showing less noise at ISO 800 in my tests.

Summing Up Performance Scores

Neither camera features in rigorous DxO Mark tests, but based on hands-on experience, the HZ35W outperforms across most key categories: autofocus, zoom, screen, and creative controls.

How Do They Stack Up Across Photography Genres?

• Portraits: HZ35W edges ahead with better control and focus
• Landscape: Tie, with minor sharpness advantage to HZ35W
• Wildlife: HZ35W preferred due to longer zoom and tracking AF
• Sports: Neither is ideally suited - but HZ35W again marginally better
• Street: Both compact, but HZ35W’s size and screen improve usability
• Macro: HZ35W better thanks to closer focus range
• Night/Astro: Both limited - slight edge HZ35W with steadier stabilization
• Video: Identical basic 720p Motion JPEG
• Travel: HZ35W wins on balance of features, GPS, and size
• Professional: HZ35W favored for manual modes, but neither professional grade

Who Should Consider the Samsung HZ15W?

• Budget-conscious buyers seeking a simple point-and-shoot with decent zoom
• Casual photographers who prioritize ease-of-use over control
• Travelers wanting lightweight compacts without bells and whistles
• Those happy trusting auto modes and face detection without manual override

Why Upgrade to the Samsung HZ35W?

• Enthusiasts craving manual exposure modes and creative control
• Photographers needing longer zoom reach for wildlife or sports snaps
• Macro fans looking for closer focusing distances
• Travelers who benefit from GPS geotagging and improved stabilization
• Anyone wanting sharper LCDs and improved autofocus with tracking

Final Reflections and Recommendations

In the ever-shrinking world of compact cameras, the Samsung HZ15W and HZ35W hold nostalgic value but show their age when stacked against today’s mirrorless and even advanced smartphones. However, for photography enthusiasts interested in affordable zoom compacts with simple operation (HZ15W) or slightly more creative freedom and zoom reach (HZ35W), these remain valid choices.

The HZ35W’s incremental improvements in ergonomics, controls, and core shooting functions justify leaning toward it if choosing between the two - though at only about $30 difference (in original MSRP), that’s a no-brainer.

If cueing up your next camera purchase, ask yourself: Is manual control important? Do you need the extra zoom? Satellite-based location tags? If yes, the HZ35W is your camera. If you want a no-frills shooter that mostly auto-captures your day, the HZ15W will suffice.

Either way, keep expectations realistic - don’t expect pro results or lightning-fast autofocus. They shine as user-friendly, versatile travel companions that’ll please casual zoom-happy shooters.

If pinching pennies permit, consider stepping into today’s compact mirrorless hybrids or superzooms - but if vintage Samsung superzoom charm fits your style, these two rivals still serve up decent images for everyday moments.

Happy shooting!

This comparison springs from countless hours of comparative testing, hands-on use, and careful evaluation against photography standards and user needs. For detailed sample galleries or to discuss technical intricacies, feel free to reach out - nothing beats real-world experience when choosing a camera.