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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A230

Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A230 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 referred to as WB550
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A200
  • Updated by Sony A290
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A230 Overview

Following is a thorough review of the Samsung HZ15W versus Sony A230, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Samsung and Sony. The sensor resolution of the HZ15W (12MP) and the A230 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the HZ15W (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The HZ15W was launched 2 months earlier than the A230 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the HZ15W grades against the A230 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony A230

 HZ15W A230 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Samsung HZ15W

 A230 HZ15W 

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony A230

 HZ15W A230 
IntroducedFebruary 2009May 2009Same generation
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Samsung HZ15W enjoys outside measurements 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 A230 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

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Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the HZ15W compared to the A230.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A230 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the HZ15W and A230 is 90 and 69 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to see the contrast in sensor sizes just by going through specifications. The picture here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the HZ15W and A230.

Plainly, both cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The HZ15W because of its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Samsung HZ15W will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung HZ15W
Portrait photography with Sony A230
31
has manual focus
has face detection autofocus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
54
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Street photography features
Sony A230 Street photography features
52
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than competitors (249g)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Samsung HZ15W
Sports photography with Sony A230
27
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
46
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Travel photography highlights
Sony A230 Travel photography highlights
54
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (249 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
45
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (230 shots)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography factors
Sony A230 Landscape photography factors
40
has manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
51
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
terrible battery (230 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Vlogging advice
Sony A230 Vlogging advice
28
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than competitors (249 grams)
9
lack of video recording
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony A230
 Samsung HZ15WSony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model Samsung HZ15W Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Also Known as WB550 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-02-23 2009-05-18
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 16 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 249g (0.55 pounds) 490g (1.08 pounds)
Physical dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 63
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.4
DXO Low light score not tested 531
Other
Battery life - 230 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $330 $569