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Samsung HZ15W vs Sigma DP3 Merrill

Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sigma DP3 Merrill front
Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46

Samsung HZ15W vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Key Specs

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
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Additionally referred to as WB550
Sigma DP3 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 75mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 59mm
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Succeeded the Sigma DP2 Merrill
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Overview

Below is a thorough assessment of the Samsung HZ15W versus Sigma DP3 Merrill, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Samsung and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the HZ15W (12MP) and the DP3 Merrill (15MP) is fairly well matched but the HZ15W (1/2.3") and DP3 Merrill (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The HZ15W was brought out 4 years before the DP3 Merrill and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the HZ15W matches up versus the DP3 Merrill in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sigma DP3 Merrill

 HZ15W DP3 Merrill 

Reasons to pick Sigma DP3 Merrill over the Samsung HZ15W

 DP3 Merrill HZ15W 
IntroducedJanuary 2013February 2009More recent by 47 months
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sigma DP3 Merrill

 HZ15W DP3 Merrill 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Samsung HZ15W vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Samsung HZ15W has exterior measurements of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sigma DP3 Merrill has sizing of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

See the Samsung HZ15W versus Sigma DP3 Merrill in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the HZ15W vs the DP3 Merrill.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sigma DP3 Merrill size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the HZ15W and DP3 Merrill is 90 and 83 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sigma DP3 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements purely by checking a spec sheet. The photograph here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the HZ15W and DP3 Merrill.

As you can see, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The HZ15W because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Sigma DP3 Merrill will resolve extra detail having its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos way more aggressively. The older HZ15W is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sigma DP3 Merrill sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography details
Sigma DP3 Merrill Portrait photography details
31
has manual focus
features face detect autofocus
no manual control
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
73
manual focus
megapixel count decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung HZ15W
Street photography with Sigma DP3 Merrill
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (249g)
65
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Sports photography camera
Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Sports photography camera
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
44
megapixel count decent (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
can't change focal length (75mm)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Travel photography highlights
Sigma DP3 Merrill Travel photography highlights
54
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (249 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
54
megapixel count decent (15MP)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Landscape photography camera
Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Landscape photography camera
40
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
55
manual focus
screen is a decent size (3")
megapixel count decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (75mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Vlogging advice
Sigma DP3 Merrill Vlogging advice
28
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (249g)
22
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have microphone support
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sigma DP3 Merrill
 Samsung HZ15WSigma DP3 Merrill
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sigma
Model Samsung HZ15W Sigma DP3 Merrill
Also called as WB550 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-02-23 2013-01-08
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Dual TRUE II engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 -
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4704 x 3136
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
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
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-240mm (10.0x) 75mm (1x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.8 f/2.8
Macro focus range 5cm -
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 16s -
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s -
Continuous shooting rate - 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.70 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps) 640 x 480
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 249 grams (0.55 lb) 330 grams (0.73 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3")
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
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal -
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $330 $1,353