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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A290

Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A290 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
47
Overall
51

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A290 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
  • Revealed February 2009
  • Also Known as WB550
Sony A290
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A230
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A290 Overview

The following is a complete comparison of the Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A290, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Samsung and Sony. The resolution of the HZ15W (12MP) and the A290 (14MP) is fairly close but the HZ15W (1/2.3") and A290 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The HZ15W was revealed 15 months earlier than the A290 making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony A290 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the HZ15W matches up versus the A290 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony A290

 HZ15W A290 
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A290 over the Samsung HZ15W

 A290 HZ15W 
RevealedJune 2010February 2009Newer by 15 months

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony A290

 HZ15W A290 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A290 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Samsung HZ15W provides outer dimensions of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A290 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the HZ15W and the A290.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A290 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the HZ15W and A290 is 90 and 66 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A290 top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A290 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions only by looking through a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the HZ15W and A290.

Clearly, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The HZ15W having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A290 will result in greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged HZ15W will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A290 sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A290 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A290 as a Portrait photography camera
31
focusing manually
supports face detection focusing
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
65
focusing manually
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Street photography factors
Sony A290 Street photography factors
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than competitors (249g)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Sports photography highlights
Sony A290 Sports photography highlights
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
bad battery (290 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Travel photography camera
Sony A290 as a Travel photography camera
54
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors (249g)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
53
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery (290 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A290 as a Landscape photography camera
40
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
58
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
doesn't have liveview
bad battery (290 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Vlogging camera
Sony A290 as a Vlogging camera
28
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
heavier than competitors (249 grams)
9
can't record video
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony A290
 Samsung HZ15WSony Alpha DSLR-A290
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung HZ15W Sony Alpha DSLR-A290
Also referred to as WB550 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-02-23 2010-06-09
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
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 area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 16 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 249 grams (0.55 lbs) 549 grams (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 615
Other
Battery life - 290 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo, SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $330 $600