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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
52
Overall
55

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-3N 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
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Other Name is WB550
Sony NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-F3
  • Successor is Sony a5000
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Samsung HZ15W and Sony NEX-3N, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Samsung and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the HZ15W (12MP) and NEX-3N (16MP) and the HZ15W (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) enjoy different sensor size.

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The HZ15W was introduced 5 years prior to the NEX-3N which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a simple overview of how the HZ15W grades vs the NEX-3N in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony NEX-3N

 HZ15W NEX-3N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3N over the Samsung HZ15W

 NEX-3N HZ15W 
LaunchedFebruary 2013February 2009More modern by 48 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony NEX-3N

 HZ15W NEX-3N 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-3N Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Samsung HZ15W has outer dimensions of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3N has sizing of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Samsung HZ15W and Sony NEX-3N 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 select at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the HZ15W vs the NEX-3N.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-3N size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the HZ15W and NEX-3N is 90 and 89 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-3N top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-3N Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes only by checking out a spec sheet. The picture underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the HZ15W and NEX-3N.

Clearly, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The HZ15W with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Sony NEX-3N will show greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged HZ15W will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-3N sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung HZ15W
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3N
31
focusing manually
supports face detection focusing
no manual control
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
66
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Street photography camera
52
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than competition (249 grams)
77
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-3N Sports photography factors
27
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
53
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (480 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Travel photography camera
54
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (249 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
71
great battery life (480 per charge)
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography information
Sony NEX-3N Landscape photography information
40
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (480 shots)
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Vlogging info
Sony NEX-3N Vlogging info
28
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
more heavy than competition (249 grams)
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing external microphone support
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony NEX-3N
 Samsung HZ15WSony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model Samsung HZ15W Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Otherwise known as WB550 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-02-23 2013-02-25
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 16000
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 16 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m -
Flash settings Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 249 grams (0.55 lb) 269 grams (0.59 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 1067
Other
Battery life - 480 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $330 $399