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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony HX7V

Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony HX7V 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
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Also Known as WB550
Sony HX7V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 208g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released July 2011
Photography Glossary

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony HX7V Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Samsung HZ15W vs Sony HX7V, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Samsung and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the HZ15W (12MP) and HX7V (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The HZ15W was announced 3 years before the HX7V and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the HZ15W scores versus the HX7V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony HX7V

 HZ15W HX7V 
Manually focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Sony HX7V over the Samsung HZ15W

 HX7V HZ15W 
ReleasedJuly 2011February 2009Fresher by 29 months
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony HX7V

 HZ15W HX7V 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony HX7V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Samsung HZ15W provides external dimensions of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony HX7V has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Examine the Samsung HZ15W vs Sony HX7V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the HZ15W and the HX7V.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony HX7V size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the HZ15W and HX7V is 90 and 92 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony HX7V top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony HX7V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading a spec sheet. The visual below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the HZ15W and HX7V.

As you can see, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Sony HX7V to offer greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older HZ15W is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony HX7V sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony HX7V Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony HX7V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX7V Portrait photography highlights
31
focusing manually
provides face detect focusing
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
30
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Street photography features
Sony HX7V Street photography features
52
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than competition (249 grams)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Sports photography details
Sony HX7V Sports photography details
27
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX7V as a Travel photography camera
54
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (249 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
67
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung HZ15W
Landscape photography with Sony HX7V
40
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Vlogging factors
Sony HX7V Vlogging factors
28
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic socket
heavier than competition (249 grams)
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic jack
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony HX7V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony HX7V
 Samsung HZ15WSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung HZ15W Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
Otherwise known as WB550 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-02-23 2011-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.8 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 16 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 4.80 m
Flash options Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 249 grams (0.55 lb) 208 grams (0.46 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $330 $499