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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony W550

Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32
Samsung HZ15W front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony W550 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
  • Announced February 2009
  • Additionally referred to as WB550
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony W550 Overview

Following is a extensive review of the Samsung HZ15W and Sony W550, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Samsung and Sony. The image resolution of the HZ15W (12MP) and the W550 (14MP) is very close and both cameras boast the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The HZ15W was manufactured 3 years before the W550 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Samsung HZ15W being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summary of how the HZ15W grades vs the W550 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Sony W550

 HZ15W W550 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Samsung HZ15W

 W550 HZ15W 
LaunchedJuly 2011February 2009More modern by 29 months

Common features in the Samsung HZ15W and Sony W550

 HZ15W W550 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Samsung HZ15W has exterior measurements of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony W550 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Check the Samsung HZ15W and Sony W550 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the HZ15W compared to the W550.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony W550 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the HZ15W and W550 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes only by looking through specifications. The picture below may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the HZ15W and W550.

Plainly, both cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You can expect to see the Sony W550 to result in more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged HZ15W will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ15W vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography highlights
Sony W550 Portrait photography highlights
31
you can focus manually
provides face detection focusing
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
28
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Street photography camera
Sony W550 as a Street photography camera
52
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than others in class (249g)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Sports photography camera
Sony W550 as a Sports photography camera
27
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ15W as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
54
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (249 grams)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
65
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography features
Sony W550 Landscape photography features
40
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
42
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ15W Vlogging information
Sony W550 Vlogging information
28
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic socket
heavier than others in class (249g)
29
reasonably wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
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Samsung HZ15W vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ15W and Sony W550
 Samsung HZ15WSony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Manufacturer Samsung Sony
Model Samsung HZ15W Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Otherwise known as WB550 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Announced 2009-02-23 2011-07-24
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-240mm (10.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.8 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 16s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate - 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.70 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 249 gr (0.55 lb) 110 gr (0.24 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single -
Launch price $330 $119