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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A6500

Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A6500 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
  • Released February 2009
  • Also Known as WB550
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Launched October 2016
  • Replaced the Sony A6300
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A6500 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A6500, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Samsung and Sony. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the HZ15W (12MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the HZ15W (1/2.3") and A6500 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The HZ15W was brought out 8 years prior to the A6500 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the HZ15W matches up versus the A6500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony A6500

 HZ15W A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Samsung HZ15W

 A6500 HZ15W 
LaunchedOctober 2016February 2009Newer by 92 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kCrisper screen (+462k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony A6500

 HZ15W A6500 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Samsung HZ15W offers outer measurements 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 A6500 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Analyze the Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A6500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the HZ15W vs the A6500.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the HZ15W and A6500 is 90 and 81 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions only by going through specs. The picture below might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the HZ15W and A6500.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The HZ15W featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A6500 will show extra detail having its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged HZ15W will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung HZ15W
Portrait photography with Sony A6500
31
focusing manually
has face detection autofocus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
80
manual focus
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Street photography factors
Sony A6500 Street photography factors
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
heavier than competition in class (249 grams)
85
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
environment sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Sports photography information
Sony A6500 Sports photography information
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
77
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery power (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Travel photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Travel photography camera
54
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (249 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
74
environment sealing
has bluetooth
includes touch to focus
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
terrible battery power (350 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography highlights
Sony A6500 Landscape photography highlights
40
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
79
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
terrible battery power (350 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Vlogging details
Sony A6500 Vlogging details
28
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (249 grams)
39
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external mic port
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony A6500
 Samsung HZ15WSony Alpha a6500
General Information
Manufacturer Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung HZ15W Sony Alpha a6500
Also called as WB550 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2009-02-23 2016-10-06
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 surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 425
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 16 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 11.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 249g (0.55 lb) 453g (1.00 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 85
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1405
Other
Battery life - 350 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $330 $1,298