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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony QX30

Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony QX30 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 QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Launched September 2014
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony QX30 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Samsung HZ15W versus Sony QX30, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Lens-style by brands Samsung and Sony. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the HZ15W (12MP) and QX30 (20MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The HZ15W was released 6 years before the QX30 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the HZ15W grades vs the QX30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony QX30

 HZ15W QX30 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen sizing3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution460k0kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Samsung HZ15W

 QX30 HZ15W 
LaunchedSeptember 2014February 2009More recent by 67 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony QX30

 HZ15W QX30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you should think about its weight and size. The Samsung HZ15W provides exterior dimensions of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony QX30 has specifications of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Examine the Samsung HZ15W versus Sony QX30 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the HZ15W against the QX30.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the HZ15W and QX30 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to picture the gap in sensor measurements simply by seeing specs. The visual here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the HZ15W and QX30.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You should count on the Sony QX30 to provide extra detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older HZ15W will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography info
Sony QX30 Portrait photography info
31
manual focus
features face detection autofocus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
38
MP count decent (20MP)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Street photography features
Sony QX30 Street photography features
52
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
heavier than average (249 grams)
62
image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus via touch
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Sports photography info
Sony QX30 Sports photography info
27
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery life (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Travel photography advice
Sony QX30 Travel photography advice
54
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than average (249g)
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
65
provides focus via touch
MP count decent (20MP)
really wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
no Timelapse recording
low battery life (200 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung HZ15W
Landscape photography with Sony QX30
40
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Time Lapse function
39
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (")
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery life (200 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Vlogging details
Sony QX30 Vlogging details
28
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic jack
heavier than average (249 grams)
35
really wide (24mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no microphone port
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony QX30
 Samsung HZ15WSony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung HZ15W Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Also called as WB550 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Lens-style
Released 2009-02-23 2014-09-03
Body design Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.8 f/3.5-6.3
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch -
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 0 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 16 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.70 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix None
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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 (60p, 30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone 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 249 grams (0.55 lb) 193 grams (0.43 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 life - 200 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $330 $348