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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
90
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-C3 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
  • Released February 2009
  • Alternate Name is WB550
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Released August 2011
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Updated by Sony NEX-F3
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Samsung HZ15W versus Sony NEX-C3, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Samsung and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the HZ15W (12MP) and NEX-C3 (16MP) and the HZ15W (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The HZ15W was brought out 3 years prior to the NEX-C3 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the HZ15W scores against the NEX-C3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony NEX-C3

 HZ15W NEX-C3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Samsung HZ15W

 NEX-C3 HZ15W 
ReleasedAugust 2011February 2009More modern by 30 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony NEX-C3

 HZ15W NEX-C3 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Samsung HZ15W comes with external dimensions of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-C3 has sizing of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Compare the Samsung HZ15W versus Sony NEX-C3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the HZ15W versus the NEX-C3.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HZ15W and NEX-C3 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizes only by reviewing technical specs. The image here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the HZ15W and NEX-C3.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The HZ15W due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Sony NEX-C3 will deliver more detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged HZ15W is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography information
32
manual focus
comes with face detect autofocus
no manual control
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
73
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Street photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography information
53
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than competitors in class (249 grams)
79
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (225g)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Sports photography info
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography info
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
53
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery power (400 shots)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Travel photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography features
54
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (249 grams)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
71
good battery power (400 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (225 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography information
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography information
41
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
70
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (400 per charge)
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Vlogging details
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging details
29
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (249 grams)
27
lighter than competition in class (225g)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony NEX-C3
 Samsung HZ15WSony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Make Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung HZ15W Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Also Known as WB550 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-02-23 2011-08-22
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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 16s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate - 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.70 m no built-in flash
Flash modes 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
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 249 grams (0.55 pounds) 225 grams (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 1083
Other
Battery life - 400 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $330 $343