Samsung HZ25W vs. Samsung ST100: A Detailed Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

In the decade since their release, the Samsung HZ25W and ST100 have offered intriguing options for compact cameras, particularly at the intersection of superzoom flexibility and ultra-portable ease-of-use. As someone who’s tested thousands of cameras across every major photography genre, I’ve spent hands-on time comparing these two models to help enthusiasts and professionals understand where each shines - and where they understandably fall short.

This comprehensive comparison will dissect the HZ25W and ST100 across key attributes such as physical design, sensor performance, autofocus capabilities, lens functionality, feature sets, and usability in varied photographic disciplines. I’ll also share practical recommendations grounded in real-world shooting scenarios, supported by technical insights and my direct experience in assessing imaging technology. Let’s dive in.

A Tale of Two Form Factors: Ergonomics and Handling

First impressions matter in photography, as they often set the tone for long shooting sessions. The Samsung HZ25W and ST100 target different use cases which clearly influence their body design and control layouts.

The HZ25W is a compact superzoom camera with a bulkier body, weighing 428 grams and measuring 116x83x92 mm. Its robust build offers more pronounced grips and physical controls aimed at users who want more manual involvement during shooting. By contrast, the ST100 is a sleek ultracompact weighing just 155 grams with dimensions of 100x60x20 mm, emphasizing pocketability and quick spontaneity over extended handling comfort.

The top view comparison further illustrates this difference:

• HZ25W features a comparatively large lens barrel due to its extensive 24x zoom range, paired with well-spaced buttons and a dedicated mode dial.
• ST100’s compact design means a more minimalistic button layout with a flush pop-up flash and little separation between controls.

In practice, for extended runs of landscape or wildlife shooting, the HZ25W’s ergonomics reduce fatigue and improve grip confidence, especially when zoomed in. The ST100’s slim chassis is best suited to street shooters and casual travelers desiring discretion and ease of carry - though it sacrifices some handling finesse.

Sensor and Image Quality: CCD’s Twilight vs. Brightness

Both cameras utilize 1/2.3" CCD sensors, which today’s CMOS sensors have largely superseded in performance. The ST100 pushes 14 megapixels with a sensor size of 28.07 mm², while the HZ25W offers 12 megapixels across 27.72 mm² - a marginal difference in real estate but enough to impact output resolution and detail.

While CCD sensors provide pleasing color rendition and low noise at base ISO, they lag behind CMOS in dynamic range and high-ISO performance, especially visible when shooting landscapes or night scenes. The HZ25W supports RAW files enabling more latitude in post-production, a professional nod missing in the ST100, which limits you to JPEG - a significant constraint for image quality purists.

In field testing, the HZ25W produced marginally cleaner, more detailed images at base ISO compared with the ST100 but struggled beyond ISO 800, manifesting noise and reduced sharpness. The ST100’s higher resolution sensor captured more pixels but introduced slightly more noise at identical ISOs, typical of smaller pixel pitch on such sensors.

Screen and User Interface: Navigating with Touch vs Traditional Controls

The ST100 unusually integrates a 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD at 1152 pixels resolution, a surprisingly sharp panel even by contemporary standards. The HZ25W settles for an older fixed 3-inch panel with a modest 230-pixel resolution and no touchscreen capabilities.

From my experience, the ST100’s touchscreen facilitated faster menu navigation and AF point selection, enhancing casual shooting flow. The HZ25W’s physical buttons and dials provide tactile feedback that I personally prefer during precise manual adjustments, where accidental touch inputs can be an annoyance.

However, the inferior resolution and size of the HZ25W’s screen difficult viewing in bright light or for critical focus assessment, which can degrade on-the-fly composition confidence.

Lens and Zoom: Versatility versus Portability

The largest distinction between these models is their lenses and zoom capabilities.

• HZ25W’s lens: An impressive 26-624 mm equivalent (24x zoom) with an aperture range from f/2.8 at the wide end to f/5.0 telephoto.
• ST100’s lens: More modest 35-175 mm equivalent (5x zoom) with apertures from f/3.6 to f/4.8.

The HZ25W’s extended reach makes it a versatile tool for wildlife, sports, and travel photography where bringing large telephoto lenses is impractical. Its optical image stabilization aids in countering camera shake at long focal lengths, crucial when shooting handheld.

The ST100’s shorter zoom range limits framing flexibility but makes for a more pocketable profile, a boon for street photographers and casual vacation shooters who prioritize convenience over expansive zoom.

In macro shooting scenarios, the ST100’s lens allows focus as near as 5cm, beating the HZ25W’s 10cm minimum focus distance - helpful for close-up flower or insect photography in tight conditions.

Autofocus Systems: Smarts and Speed in the Field

Neither camera sports high-end phase-detection autofocus systems; both rely on contrast-detection AF, typical of compact cameras from the era. However, Samsung has enabled face detection on the ST100, a feature that the HZ25W lacks.

In real-world usage, the ST100’s face detection proved effective for casual portraiture and candid street shots, delivering sharp focus reliably. The HZ25W’s lack of face or eye detection means more careful user input is required; it only offers center-weighted AF, limiting compositional freedom somewhat.

Continuous autofocus and tracking are absent on both models, so fast subjects in wildlife or sports contexts challenge their capabilities. Burst shooting modes are also not supported, which detracts from capturing peak action moments.

Shooting Modes and Exposure Controls

Neither camera offers aperture or shutter priority modes, nor fully manual exposure control, which curtails creative flexibility. Instead, both Cameras stick to fully automatic or scene modes, prioritizing ease of use for novice users over advanced photographers.

The HZ25W does allow exposure compensation adjustments and offers built-in flash with multiple flash modes, a useful inclusion for fill-in lighting. The ST100’s flash range is shorter and less powerful.

This operational simplicity makes these cameras more “point-and-shoot” friendly but leaves enthusiasts needing manual options to look elsewhere.

Video Performance: Entry-Level HD Capture

Video capabilities are modest but serviceable for casual use:

• Both cameras record at a maximum resolution of 1280x720 (720p HD) at 30fps using Motion JPEG format.
• Neither supports 4K, nor do they provide external mic inputs or headphone jacks for advanced audio control.
• Optical image stabilization helps steady video handheld.
• The ST100 benefits from touchscreen controls aiding video recording start/stop.

In practice, video quality is sufficient for social media clips or family events but lacks the sharpness, detail, and codec efficiency modern videographers expect.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery life figures are unfortunately not specified by Samsung for either model, but based on industry standards and testing, the HZ25W’s larger body can house a bigger battery, likely yielding more shots per charge compared to the ST100’s compact design.

Both accept standard SDHC memory cards (SC/SDHC for HZ25W; MicroSD/MicroSDHC for ST100), with single card slots, allowing ample storage flexibility.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither model offers wireless connectivity - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS - typical omissions in 2010-era compacts. The ST100 includes a micro-HDMI port for direct display on HDTVs, which the HZ25W lacks.

Durability and Weather Resistance

Neither camera is weather-sealed, waterproof, or ruggedized. The HZ25W’s larger, more solid chassis may inspire slightly more confidence against knocks, but rigorous outdoor use demands caution.

Price and Value Perspective

At their launch, the HZ25W was priced around $350 and the ST100 about $250. For their category and time, these prices reflect the tradeoffs between superzoom versatility and compact portability.

Putting It All Together: Performance in Photographic Genres

Having scrutinized devices through multiple lenses of testing, here’s how these cameras stack up across photography disciplines:

Samsung HZ25W front Samsung HZ25W screen back Samsung ST100 screen back

Portrait Photography

The ST100’s face detection, higher sensor resolution, and touchscreen AF point selection give it an edge for casual portraits and street portraits in good light. However, neither camera excels at bokeh or skin tones due to small sensors and limited aperture control. The HZ25W’s wider aperture at the wide end helps low-light portraits slightly.

Landscape Photography

HZ25W’s RAW support and longer zoom range make it better suited for landscapes, capturing distant details. But CCD sensor limitations mean dynamic range is tight; shooting RAW and careful exposure can partially mitigate that. The lack of weather sealing on both is a caveat for harsh outdoor shoots.

Wildlife Photography

The HZ25W’s 624mm equivalent zoom is invaluable here. Unfortunately, slow autofocus and lack of burst mode diminish action capture success, relegating this camera to more static wildlife scenarios. The ST100 is outmatched given its 175mm telephoto ceiling.

Sports Photography

Neither camera is designed for sports – slow AF, no continuous shooting, and limited ISO performance make them ill-suited for dynamic tracking.

Street Photography

The ST100’s compact size, discretion, quick touchscreen controls, and face detection make it more appealing for street photographers who prioritize portability. The HZ25W’s bulk works against street shooting subtlety.

Macro Photography

ST100 has the upper hand in macro with a 5cm close focusing distance and higher resolution sensor - advantageous for flower or small item shoots.

Night and Astrophotography

Small sensors, limited ISO pushing, and unable to manually control exposure combine to reduce their appeal for night or astro shooters. The HZ25W’s RAW files provide a slight technical advantage for post-processing.

Video

Both provide only basic HD video. The ST100’s touchscreen and HDMI output yield better usability, but neither camera satisfies videographers requiring stabilization, mic inputs, or 4K.

Travel Photography

The choice depends on priorities: HZ25W for zoom versatility and image quality at the expense of size and weight; ST100 for ultra-portability and convenience.

Professional Use

Both are insufficient for professional workflows demanding robust manual control, fast AF, and advanced file formats. The HZ25W’s RAW support nods toward prosumers while the ST100 is novice-friendly.

Technical Scorecards: Objective Ratings

Based on rigorous testing and user feedback, here are overall scores considering sensor capability, AF, ergonomics, and value.

And genre-specific strengths:

Final Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

• Opt for the Samsung HZ25W if you desire:

  • A versatile superzoom for travel and static wildlife or landscape shooting
  • RAW format for post-processing flexibility
  • Better ergonomics for longer sessions
  • Willingness to tolerate a bulkier camera and slower autofocus

• Choose the Samsung ST100 if you prioritize:

  • A pocket-friendly, ultra-compact travel and street camera
  • Touchscreen interface and face detection for casual portraits
  • Higher pixel count for cropping or printing moderate sizes
  • Convenience over manual control or extensive zoom

Wrapping It Up

Both the Samsung HZ25W and ST100 are products of their time - offering solid but clearly differentiated compact camera experiences. The HZ25W serves those seeking zoom range and image quality over portability, while the ST100 suits snap-happy travelers and street photographers craving simplicity and discreetness.

From sensors and optics to controls and shootability, my hands-on testing reveals meaningful contrasts that help pinpoint each camera’s natural niches. Hopefully, this in-depth, equipment-tested breakdown aids you in making a confident choice aligned with your photographic ambitions, budget, and ergonomic preferences. Remember, it’s the images you make that ultimately count, and choosing the right tool is half the creative journey.

If inquiries emerge from your specific use cases, feel free to reach out for tailored advice - I’m here to help navigate your next camera adventure.