Samsung HZ15W vs WB850F: An Expert Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts and Professionals

Choosing the right compact camera in today’s diverse marketplace requires careful evaluation across many facets - from sensor technology and autofocus capabilities to ergonomics and video prowess. Samsung’s HZ15W (also known as WB550) and WB850F compact models stand as intriguing options targeting small sensor compact buyers who desire zoom versatility coupled with user-friendly controls. Launched three years apart yet bracketing an era of rapid sensor and imaging innovation, these two cameras merit a detailed head-to-head to illuminate their practical strengths and limitations for various photography disciplines and professional workflows.

Drawing on extensive hands-on testing experience with hundreds of compacts and superzooms, this article will dive deeply into every critical domain - sensor tech, autofocus, build, handling, genres like portraits and wildlife, video features, travel applicability, and more - equipping you to make a fully informed purchasing decision.

First Look: Design and Ergonomics in a Compact Form

Both the HZ15W and WB850F fall into Samsung’s compact superzoom category, designed with fixed lenses tailored for versatile zoom ranges and portability. Their physical dimensions and handling fit comfortably in the palm and small bags, an essential consideration for street, travel, and casual shooting.

Physically, the two cameras weigh virtually the same (249g vs. 250g), but their bodies reveal meaningful differences at first glance. The WB850F impresses with a notably slimmer profile (25mm thick) compared to the chunkier HZ15W (37mm), reflecting advances in compact engineering over the three-year gap. Its overall length and width edge slightly larger but remain pocket-friendly.

Looking at the top plate control layouts (see below), the WB850F incorporates more traditional dedicated dials and buttons, embracing more manual exposure modes - a boon for enthusiasts craving quick operative customization. In contrast, the HZ15W adopts a more pared-down, simplified interface aligned with entry-level user expectations, offering fewer direct hardware controls and no exposure priority modes.

Although both cameras offer manual focusing rings via the lens body and autofocus, the WB850F’s combination of shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual exposure support makes it stand apart for creative photographers desiring nuanced control on the fly. Meanwhile, HZ15W users will lean more heavily on automatic and preset exposure modes.

Imaging Core: Sensor Technology and Image Quality Insights

At the heart of every camera lies the sensor, a pivotal factor that heavily influences image fidelity, dynamic range, and low-light performance. Samsung’s HZ15W employs a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, a typical choice for compacts circa 2009, with a resolution of 12 megapixels. Conversely, the WB850F leverages a newer 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor clocking 16 megapixels. Although both share the same physical sensor size (around 28 mm² area), Samsung has capitalized on advancements in CMOS back-illuminated architecture for superior light-gathering efficiency on the WB850F.

This sensor evolution offers notable advantages. The WB850F’s BSI-CMOS tends to exhibit improved color depth, wider dynamic range, and cleaner high ISO output compared to the older CCD. ISO sensitivity both peak at 3200 native, but WB850F affords a higher minimum native ISO (100 vs. 80), offering slightly better gradation in highlights and shadows.

While the HZ15W’s anti-aliasing filter helps reduce moiré, its older sensor technology limits detail resolving power. WB850F’s superior resolution, coupled with newer sensor electronics, grants it a competitive edge in detailed landscapes and portraits where fine textures matter.

Versatility in Zoom and Lens Performance

One critical distinction arises from their respective zoom ranges and aperture capabilities:

• HZ15W lens: 24-240mm equivalent (10x zoom), aperture f/3.3-5.8
• WB850F lens: 23-483mm equivalent (21x zoom), aperture f/2.8-5.9

The WB850F doubles the maximum telephoto reach at nearly 500mm equivalent, a tangible asset for wildlife, sports, and distant subjects. Its faster maximum aperture at the wide end (f/2.8) favors low-light situations and enables shallower depth of field for subject separation in portraits.

Both offer similar macro focus distances around 5cm, enabling close-up shooting with minute detail fidelity, which benefits macro enthusiasts despite the modest sensor size.

Autofocus System: Speed and Accuracy in Real-Life Scenarios

Autofocus performance can determine whether you capture fleeting moments or lose them to blur or missed focus. From practical testing:

• The HZ15W boasts contrast-detection autofocus with face detection but limited tracking features. It supports single autofocus only with no continuous or tracking AF modes. While decent for static subjects, it struggles with fast-moving objects and dynamic compositions.

• The WB850F upgrades to contrast-based AF with face detection and tracking capabilities alongside selective AF area control. This system was noticeably faster and more reliable in continuous AF mode, especially under challenging light.

This difference strongly impacts wildlife and sports photography potential. Users needing responsive burst shooting and dependable focus tracking will find the WB850F substantially more capable, particularly along its extensive telephoto reach.

Shooting Speed and Buffer Depth Considerations

Shooting speed is crucial for event, sports, and wildlife photographers aiming to capture decisive moments:

• The HZ15W does not specify continuous shooting speeds; real-world tests reveal intermittent shots with limited buffer depth, making it best suited for casual or static subjects.

• The WB850F offers a robust continuous shooting rate of 10 frames per second, an impressive feat for compact zoom cameras of its era, enabling rapid capture of fast action sequences.

This high burst rate combined with effective AF tracking enhances the WB850F’s appeal for photographers targeting moving subjects, while HZ15W's limited continuous options confine its strengths to slower paced shooting.

User Interface and Viewing Experience

Handling ease correlates strongly with an intuitive, responsive interface and quality viewing components. Both cameras feature fixed 3-inch LCDs but with differing tech and resolutions:

• The HZ15W uses a fixed, non-touch 3-inch screen at 460k-dot resolution - a basic but serviceable display for framing and review.

• The WB850F incorporates a 3-inch AMOLED display with higher resolution of 614k dots, delivering more vibrant colors, deeper blacks, and improved outdoor visibility.

While neither camera supports touch focus or menu control, the WB850F’s screen offers a noticeably enhanced user experience, reducing eye strain and providing sharper visual feedback during shooting and playback.

Neither features an electronic viewfinder, an understandable omission considering the compact target market, but the larger zoom range and higher resolution LCD on the WB850F partially compensate.

Portability and Battery Life

Both models weigh in around 250 grams, with the WB850F being thinner, making it slightly easier to slip into tighter pockets or bags during travel and street photography - important for photographers desiring discretion and mobility.

Battery life ratings are not officially stated for either, but based on battery models and real-world usage:

• The WB850F, powered by an SLB-10A rechargeable battery, supports a reasonable number of shots per charge suitable for day trips but not heavy professional use without spare batteries.

• The HZ15W battery specs are unspecified, typical of early compact cameras likely with limited endurance relative to modern standards.

Both cameras offer single storage card slots supporting SD card families but the WB850F benefits from compatibility with SDXC cards, allowing higher capacity storage for extended shooting sessions and HD video.

Comprehensive Autofocus and Exposure Flexibility

The WB850F distinguishes itself further with the inclusion of manual exposure modes:

• Supports shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual modes
• Offers exposure compensation and custom white balance
• Backed by bracketing options for white balance

In contrast, the HZ15W lacks these features entirely, relegating users to full auto or program modes only. This distinction caters to enthusiasts needing creative exposure control and manual finesse - core demands for portrait and landscape work.

Sensor Stabilization and Image Sharpness

Both cameras offer image stabilization; however, their implementations differ:

• The HZ15W features sensor-shift stabilization, mechanically compensating for camera shake indiscriminately.

• The WB850F employs optical stabilization integrated into the lens mechanism, generally more effective at telephoto focal lengths.

In practice, the WB850F's optical IS handles the extended 21x zoom better by minimizing blur during long-reach shots, advantageous for wildlife and sports scenarios. The HZ15W’s sensor-shift aids casual shooters but shows limitations when zoomed in.

Flash and Low Light Shooting Comparison

Both cameras include built-in flashes with similar range, but their modes and sync capabilities vary:

• The HZ15W’s flash effective range peaks near 4.7 meters with several modes including red-eye reduction and slow sync, adequate for moderately sized indoor or close-range scenes.

• The WB850F’s flash reaches about 3.5 meters, with similar modes but offers more manual control and integrates with exposure compensation for better balancing ambient light.

In low light photography, the WB850F’s superior sensor and optics deliver cleaner images at higher ISOs. The HZ15W struggles more with noise and limited ISO range, constraining night and astro photography potential.

Video Capabilities: HD Video and Beyond

For hobbyist videographers and content creators, video function is an increasingly pivotal factor.

• The HZ15W supports basic HD video recording up to 720p at 30fps, encoding into Motion JPEG, an older, less efficient format resulting in larger files and more limited editing flexibility.

• The WB850F significantly upgrades to full 1080p HD video recording at 30fps, using MPEG-4 and more advanced H.264 compression, widely supported and more efficient. It also offers 720p, VGA, and high frame rate modes (240fps and 480fps) at lower resolutions enabling slow-motion capture.

While lacking external microphone or headphone jacks in either model restricts professional audio capabilities, the WB850F’s video toolkit indisputably surpasses the HZ15W for quality and versatility.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

A substantial advancement with the WB850F is its inclusion of built-in wireless connectivity and GPS:

• It features Wi-Fi for direct image transfer and remote control functionality via Samsung’s mobile apps, a major convenience for travel and instant sharing.

• GPS tagging capability allows automatic location metadata embedding, valuable for travel and landscape photographers documenting shooting locales.

The HZ15W lacks wireless or GPS, relying exclusively on USB 2.0 wired connection and manual metadata entry, a definite drawback by modern standards.

Use-Case Analysis Across Photography Genres

To synthesize these technical and practical details into clear decision guidance, let’s break down each camera’s relative suitability for key photography disciplines:

Samsung HZ15W front Samsung HZ15W screen back Samsung WB850F front Samsung WB850F screen back

Portrait Photography

WB850F wins with improved sensor resolution and superior autofocus face detection plus tracking. Its wider aperture (f/2.8 at wide) enables softer bokeh and attractive skin tone rendition. The manual exposure modes provide creative control for lighting and depth of field effects, beneficial in studio or natural light portraits.

HZ15W can handle basic portraits with face detection but its limited aperture and older sensor result in flatter images with less subject separation.

Landscape Photography

While both cameras share similar sensor sizes restricting ultimate resolution and dynamic range compared to APS-C or full-frame sensors, the WB850F’s improved sensor and higher megapixel count permit crisper detail capture. Its wider set of aspect ratios adds compositional flexibility.

Neither camera features weather sealing, a limiting factor for outdoor shooting in adverse conditions. The WB850F’s better screen and GPS support make it more travel- and landscape-friendly.

Wildlife Photography

WB850F’s 21x zoom and rapid 10fps burst shooting give it hotly competitive advantages in capturing fast-moving wildlife subjects at distances. Its autofocus tracking further aids sharp capture of erratic movement.

HZ15W, with half the zoom range and no continuous AF or burst shooting, falls short in this demanding photographic arena.

Sports Photography

Similar to wildlife, WB850F’s autofocus tracking and fast burst rate support capturing fast-paced sports action better. Its manual modes allow adapting shutter speeds to freeze or creatively blur motion.

The HZ15W’s slower interface and AF system, no burst mode, and limited zoom inherently constrain sports photography utility.

Street Photography

For candid street shooting, compact size and quick responsiveness are crucial. The WB850F's thinner and lighter design with a fast f/2.8 wide aperture help low light performance critical for indoor or evening street scenes.

However, neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder or silent shooting modes (no silent shutter), potentially disruptive in quiet street environments.

Macro Photography

Both cameras share a 5 cm macro-focus distance, enabling detailed close-ups of small subjects. The WB850F’s superior sensor and optics yield sharper macro images with richer color.

Close focusing combined with optical stabilization in the WB850F also aids handheld macro around the home or in nature.

Night and Astrophotography

For night or astro work, sensor noise performance and maximum shutter speed matter greatly. Neither camera offers long exposure modes typical of dedicated astro cameras, but:

• WB850F’s CMOS sensor enables relatively cleaner images at higher ISO, better capturing low light scenes.

• HZ15W’s CCD sensor plus fixed max shutter speed of 1/16 sec hamper long exposure astrophotography.

Video Production

The WB850F clearly dominates video utility with flexible frame rates, high definition 1080p capture, and better compression codecs, suiting casual filmmaking and social media content creation.

HZ15W’s 720p only and older Motion JPEG codec feel dated and limiting for contemporary video needs.

Travel Photography

Both cameras score high in portability and zoom versatility appreciated during travel. WB850F edges ahead with GPS tagging, wireless image transfer, and longer zoom range.

Battery life and rapid shooting combined with image quality also favor the WB850F for day-long excursions demanding reliable, quality output.

Professional Work and Workflow Integration

While both cameras target the consumer segment, professionals requiring reliability, raw image files, and integration into post-processing workflows must note:

• Neither camera supports RAW file capture, constraining post-processing latitude.

• WB850F’s manual modes and exposure compensation provide creative control to optimize JPEG outputs directly in-camera.

Hence, for professional applications demanding flexibility and image quality, neither camera replaces entry-level DSLRs or mirrorless systems but the WB850F stands as a better compact tool in controlled environments.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

Neither device offers weather sealing, waterproofing, dustproofing, or shockproofing. For rugged fieldwork or harsh conditions, users must exercise typical compact camera care or seek specialized rugged models.

Storage and Connectivity Summary

Both use SD or SDHC cards, but only the WB850F supports SDXC for higher capacities, beneficial when shooting large volume HD videos.

Connectivity-wise:

• HZ15W limited to USB 2.0 and HDMI output.
• WB850F adds Wi-Fi and built-in GPS.

Final Assessment and Recommendations

Samsung HZ15W (WB550): An accessible, first-generation compact superzoom generalized for casual users who need straightforward operation, moderate zoom, and basic point-and-shoot capabilities. While its older sensor impedes low-light and dynamic range performance, it excels in user simplicity, an advantage for entry-level users.

Ideal for:

• Casual family photography
• Daytime travel shots without heavy technical demands
• Beginners desiring straightforward, hassle-free controls

Samsung WB850F: A clear step up in every respect - sensor quality and resolution, zoom reach, autofocus sophistication, shooting speed, exposure flexibility, video capabilities, and connectivity. This camera suits photography enthusiasts and modest professional users requiring a highly versatile, pocketable superzoom without heavy lifting.

Recommended for:

• Enthusiasts prioritizing wildlife, sports, and travel photography
• Casual filmmakers and vloggers needing full HD video and slow-motion options
• Users seeking integrated GPS and built-in Wi-Fi for streamlined workflows
• Portrait and landscape photographers needing manual exposure modes and richer detail

Conclusion

After rigorous comparative evaluation rooted in hands-on testing, the Samsung WB850F positions as a compelling all-round compact superzoom camera that brings strong performance closer to enthusiast-level standards within a convenient form factor and approachable price (circa $599). The HZ15W holds meaningful appeal primarily for new entrants wanting straightforward zoom cameras at a budget (~$330), but its technological limitations temper broader professional or enthusiast applicability.

Photography enthusiasts and professionals aiming to balance image quality, control, and versatility in a compact body will find the WB850F’s advances in sensor technology, autofocus proficiency, exposure control, video features, and connectivity make it the superior option for today’s demanding creative use-cases.

This nuanced assessment equips potential buyers with complete knowledge to tailor their camera choice precisely to their needs and budgets, reflecting over a decade of expert camera testing and industry insight.