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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5R Key Specs

Samsung HZ15W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 249g - 105 x 61 x 37mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Alternate Name is WB550
Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Launched August 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5N
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5T
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Samsung HZ15W versus Sony NEX-5R, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the HZ15W (12MP) and NEX-5R (16MP) and the HZ15W (1/2.3") and NEX-5R (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The HZ15W was launched 4 years prior to the NEX-5R and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise view of how the HZ15W grades against the NEX-5R in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 HZ15W NEX-5R 

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

 NEX-5R HZ15W 
LaunchedAugust 2012February 2009Fresher by 42 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 HZ15W NEX-5R 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5R Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Samsung HZ15W provides exterior 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) whilst the Sony NEX-5R has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Check the Samsung HZ15W versus Sony NEX-5R in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at the time. Following is the front view size comparison of the HZ15W versus the NEX-5R.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5R size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the HZ15W and NEX-5R is 90 and 89 respectively.

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

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5R Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading specs. The graphic underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the HZ15W and NEX-5R.

All in all, each of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The HZ15W due to its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh more difficult and the Sony NEX-5R will deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The older HZ15W is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5R sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung HZ15W
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5R
31
manual focus
comes with face detect focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
74
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Street photography information
Sony NEX-5R Street photography information
52
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (249g)
80
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Sports photography features
Sony NEX-5R Sports photography features
27
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
68
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Travel photography features
Sony NEX-5R Travel photography features
54
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (249 grams)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
73
boasts touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung HZ15W
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5R
40
manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
75
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung HZ15W
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5R
28
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (249 grams)
31
touchscreen enabled
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
no mic support
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony NEX-5R
 Samsung HZ15WSony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Brand Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung HZ15W Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Also Known as WB550 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-02-23 2012-08-29
Physical type 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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 99
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 16 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.70 m no built-in flash
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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 249 gr (0.55 lb) 276 gr (0.61 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 910
Other
Battery life - 330 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch cost $330 $750