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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 III 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
  • Alternative Name is WB550
Sony RX100 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched May 2014
  • Superseded the Sony RX100 II
  • Newer Model is Sony RX100 IV
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 III, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Samsung and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the HZ15W (12MP) and RX100 III (20MP) and the HZ15W (1/2.3") and RX100 III (1") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The HZ15W was revealed 6 years before the RX100 III which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the HZ15W grades versus the RX100 III in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony RX100 III

 HZ15W RX100 III 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Samsung HZ15W

 RX100 III HZ15W 
LaunchedMay 2014February 2009More modern by 63 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k460kClearer screen (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony RX100 III

 HZ15W RX100 III 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Samsung HZ15W enjoys exterior dimensions of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") along with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony RX100 III has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") along with a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

Take a look at the Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 III in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the HZ15W and the RX100 III.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the HZ15W and RX100 III is 90 and 89 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 III top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizes merely by viewing specs. The pic below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the HZ15W and RX100 III.

All in all, each of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The HZ15W having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Sony RX100 III will result in greater detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged HZ15W will be behind in sensor technology.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung HZ15W
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 III
31
manual focus
provides face detect focusing
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
64
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
features face detect focus
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Street photography information
Sony RX100 III Street photography information
52
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than average (249g)
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
lighter than average (290g)
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Sports photography info
Sony RX100 III Sports photography info
27
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
65
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
features tracking focus
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Travel photography information
Sony RX100 III Travel photography information
54
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than average (249g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
85
lighter than average (290g)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography features
Sony RX100 III Landscape photography features
40
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse function
73
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 III as a Vlogging camera
28
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic port
heavier than average (249g)
80
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (290 grams)
lack of microphone socket
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony RX100 III
 Samsung HZ15WSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Brand Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung HZ15W Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Also called as WB550 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Released 2009-02-23 2014-05-15
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
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 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.8 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Min shutter speed 16 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.70 m -
Flash settings Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
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), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 249 grams (0.55 lb) 290 grams (0.64 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 67
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 495
Other
Battery life - 320 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $330 $748