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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
90
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Alternative Name is WB550
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released October 2011
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5R
Photography Glossary

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Samsung HZ15W versus Sony NEX-5N, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Samsung and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the HZ15W (12MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the HZ15W (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The HZ15W was released 3 years prior to the NEX-5N and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short introduction of how the HZ15W scores vs the NEX-5N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony NEX-5N

 HZ15W NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Samsung HZ15W

 NEX-5N HZ15W 
ReleasedOctober 2011February 2009Fresher by 31 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony NEX-5N

 HZ15W NEX-5N 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Samsung HZ15W enjoys external dimensions of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5N has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Samsung HZ15W versus Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is the front view size comparison of the HZ15W compared to the NEX-5N.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HZ15W and NEX-5N is 90 and 89 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing only by researching specs. The photograph below may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the HZ15W and NEX-5N.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The HZ15W featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony NEX-5N will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The older HZ15W will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung HZ15W
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5N
32
manual focus
comes with face detect focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Street photography camera
53
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than competitors (249g)
80
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
offers touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography advice
27
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
58
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (460 per charge)
no image stabilization
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography factors
54
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (249g)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
71
great battery life (460 per charge)
offers touch focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
41
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
71
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (460 shots)
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone support
more heavy than competitors (249 grams)
33
built-in touchscreen
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing mic jack
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony NEX-5N
 Samsung HZ15WSony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model Samsung HZ15W Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Alternative name WB550 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-02-23 2011-10-03
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
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 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 16 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 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, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 file format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 249g (0.55 lbs) 269g (0.59 lbs)
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 Overall score not tested 77
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1079
Other
Battery life - 460 photographs
Form of battery - 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 recording
Storage media SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $330 $550