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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A500

Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A500 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
  • Launched February 2009
  • Also Known as WB550
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Successor is Sony A560
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A500 Overview

Following is a complete analysis of the Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A500, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Samsung and Sony. The image resolution of the HZ15W (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very close but the HZ15W (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The HZ15W was manufactured 6 months earlier than the A500 which means that they are of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the HZ15W scores against the A500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony A500

 HZ15W A500 
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Samsung HZ15W

 A500 HZ15W 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony A500

 HZ15W A500 
LaunchedFebruary 2009August 2009Same generation
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Samsung HZ15W provides external dimensions of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") along with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony A500 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Compare the Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the HZ15W compared to the A500.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the HZ15W and A500 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizes simply by looking through specs. The picture underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the HZ15W and A500.

All in all, the two cameras feature the identical MP but different sensor sizes. The HZ15W comes with the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF more difficult.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography factors
Sony A500 Portrait photography factors
31
you can focus manually
provides face detection focusing
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
63
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Street photography information
Sony A500 Street photography information
52
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than competition (249 grams)
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Sports photography highlights
Sony A500 Sports photography highlights
27
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Travel photography factors
Sony A500 Travel photography factors
54
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (249 grams)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
43
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (520 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography info
Sony A500 Landscape photography info
40
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
60
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (520 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Vlogging camera
Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
28
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than competition (249g)
9
lack of video recording
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony A500
 Samsung HZ15WSony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung HZ15W Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Also referred to as WB550 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-02-23 2009-08-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 16s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 12.00 m
Flash options 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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
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) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file 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 gr (0.55 lbs) 630 gr (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life - 520 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $330 $638