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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony a5100

Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
65
Features
74
Overall
68

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony a5100 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 a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Announced August 2014
  • Older Model is Sony a5000
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony a5100 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Samsung HZ15W and Sony a5100, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Samsung and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the HZ15W (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the HZ15W (1/2.3") and a5100 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The HZ15W was released 6 years earlier than the a5100 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the HZ15W scores against the a5100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony a5100

 HZ15W a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Samsung HZ15W

 a5100 HZ15W 
AnnouncedAugust 2014February 2009Fresher by 66 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony a5100

 HZ15W a5100 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Samsung HZ15W comes with 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) whilst the Sony a5100 has dimensions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Compare the Samsung HZ15W and Sony a5100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the HZ15W compared to the a5100.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the HZ15W and a5100 is 90 and 89 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizing merely by checking specifications. The visual below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the HZ15W and a5100.

Plainly, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The HZ15W due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony a5100 will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older HZ15W is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung HZ15W
Portrait photography with Sony a5100
31
focusing manually
comes with face detect focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
72
focusing manually
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Street photography advice
Sony a5100 Street photography advice
52
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than competitors in class (249g)
82
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
supports touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Sports photography factors
Sony a5100 Sports photography factors
27
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
68
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery life (400 per charge)
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Travel photography features
Sony a5100 Travel photography features
54
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (249g)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
80
great battery life (400 CIPA)
supports touch to focus
MP count good (24MP)
built-in flash
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung HZ15W
Landscape photography with Sony a5100
40
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (400 CIPA)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Vlogging information
Sony a5100 Vlogging information
28
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (249g)
34
touchscreen
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
lack of external mic jack
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony a5100
 Samsung HZ15WSony Alpha a5100
General Information
Manufacturer Samsung Sony
Model Samsung HZ15W Sony Alpha a5100
Otherwise known as WB550 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-02-23 2014-08-17
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 179
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Maximal 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 size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 16 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 249 grams (0.55 pounds) 283 grams (0.62 pounds)
Physical dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1347
Other
Battery life - 400 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $330 $448