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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A7S

Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Alpha A7S front
Portability
77
Imaging
60
Features
73
Overall
65

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A7S Key Specs

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
  • Announced February 2009
  • Also Known as WB550
Sony A7S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 409600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 489g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Released April 2014
  • Renewed by Sony A7S II
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A7S Overview

Below is a extended comparison of the Samsung HZ15W versus Sony A7S, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. The image resolution of the HZ15W (12MP) and the A7S (12MP) is fairly similar but the HZ15W (1/2.3") and A7S (Full frame) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The HZ15W was revealed 6 years earlier than the A7S and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony A7S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the HZ15W scores vs the A7S when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony A7S

 HZ15W A7S 

Reasons to pick Sony A7S over the Samsung HZ15W

 A7S HZ15W 
ReleasedApril 2014February 2009More recent by 62 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1230k460kClearer display (+770k dot)

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony A7S

 HZ15W A7S 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A7S Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Samsung HZ15W enjoys exterior dimensions of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony A7S has dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 489 grams (1.08 lbs).

Check out the Samsung HZ15W versus Sony A7S in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the HZ15W compared to the A7S.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A7S size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the HZ15W and A7S is 90 and 77 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A7S top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A7S Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements simply by going over technical specs. The visual below may give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the HZ15W and A7S.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have the same megapixels but not the same sensor measurements. The HZ15W includes the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF trickier. The older HZ15W is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A7S sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A7S Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A7S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography factors
Sony A7S Portrait photography factors
31
focusing manually
supports face detection focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
68
you can focus manually
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Street photography features
Sony A7S Street photography features
52
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than competitors in class (249 grams)
76
tilting screen
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
lighter than others (489g)
very good ISO range (409,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Sports photography features
Sony A7S Sports photography features
27
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
52
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery power (360 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Travel photography information
Sony A7S Travel photography information
54
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (249 grams)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
58
lighter than others (489 grams)
environment proofing
not so great battery power (360 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography information
Sony A7S Landscape photography information
40
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not available
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse mode
66
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
sensor size is great (Full frame)
very good ISO range (409,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery power (360 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Vlogging features
Sony A7S Vlogging features
28
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone jack
more heavy than competitors in class (249 grams)
34
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
lighter than others (489g)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A7S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony A7S
 Samsung HZ15WSony Alpha A7S
General Information
Make Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung HZ15W Sony Alpha A7S
Also called WB550 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2009-02-23 2014-04-06
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4240 x 2832
Maximum native ISO 3200 409600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 1,230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 16 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.70 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix no built-in flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps) 3840 x 2160, XAVC S 1080 60p(50Mbps), 30p (50Mbps), 24p (50Mbps). 720 120p (50Mbps). AVCHD 60p (28Mbps), 60i (24Mbps/17Mbps), 24p (24Mbps/17Mbps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 249 grams (0.55 lb) 489 grams (1.08 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 87
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 3702
Other
Battery life - 360 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $330 $1,998