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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5 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 referred to as WB550
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5N
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Samsung HZ15W versus Sony NEX-5, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. The image resolution of the HZ15W (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is very close but the HZ15W (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The HZ15W was launched 15 months before the NEX-5 making them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summation of how the HZ15W grades against the NEX-5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony NEX-5

 HZ15W NEX-5 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Samsung HZ15W

 NEX-5 HZ15W 
ReleasedJune 2010February 2009Newer by 15 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony NEX-5

 HZ15W NEX-5 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Samsung HZ15W offers exterior measurements of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check out the Samsung HZ15W versus Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the HZ15W and the NEX-5.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the HZ15W and NEX-5 is 90 and 89 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions just by looking through specs. The image below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the HZ15W and NEX-5.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The HZ15W featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh harder and the Sony NEX-5 will result in more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged HZ15W will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography details
31
focusing manually
features face detection focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung HZ15W
Street photography with Sony NEX-5
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than competition (249 grams)
76
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Sports photography features
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography features
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
52
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Travel photography info
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography info
54
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (249 grams)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
59
MP count good (14MP)
lack of Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography advice
40
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
68
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung HZ15W
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5
28
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone port
more heavy than competition (249g)
28
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of external microphone port
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony NEX-5
 Samsung HZ15WSony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model Samsung HZ15W Sony Alpha NEX-5
Also called as WB550 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-02-23 2010-06-07
Body design 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 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 16s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed - 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 249 gr (0.55 lb) 287 gr (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 69
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 796
Other
Battery life - 330 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $330 $599