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Samsung HZ30W vs Sigma SD1 Merrill

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Samsung HZ30W front
 
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51

Samsung HZ30W vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Key Specs

Samsung HZ30W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-360mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 245g - 107 x 61 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Other Name is WB600
Sigma SD1 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 790g - 146 x 113 x 80mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Superseded the Sigma SD1
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Samsung HZ30W vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Samsung HZ30W versus Sigma SD1 Merrill, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Samsung and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the HZ30W (12MP) and the SD1 Merrill (15MP) is very close but the HZ30W (1/2.3") and SD1 Merrill (APS-C) come with different sensor measurements.

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The HZ30W was unveiled 3 years before the SD1 Merrill which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Samsung HZ30W being a Compact camera and the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the HZ30W grades versus the SD1 Merrill in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ30W over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 HZ30W SD1 Merrill 

Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Samsung HZ30W

 SD1 Merrill HZ30W 
LaunchedApril 2012January 2010Newer by 27 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Samsung HZ30W and Sigma SD1 Merrill

 HZ30W SD1 Merrill 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Samsung HZ30W vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Samsung HZ30W provides physical dimensions of 107mm x 61mm x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sigma SD1 Merrill has specifications of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") having a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs).

Contrast the Samsung HZ30W versus Sigma SD1 Merrill in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the HZ30W and the SD1 Merrill.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sigma SD1 Merrill size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the HZ30W and SD1 Merrill is 91 and 57 respectively.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sigma SD1 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ30W vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to picture the gap in sensor dimensions only by looking through a spec sheet. The image here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the HZ30W and SD1 Merrill.

Clearly, both of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The HZ30W with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Sigma SD1 Merrill will provide you with extra detail having an extra 3MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged HZ30W will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sigma SD1 Merrill sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ30W vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ30W vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Portrait photography advice
Sigma SD1 Merrill Portrait photography advice
29
focusing manually
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
65
has manual focus
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ30W as a Street photography camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (245g)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
57
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Sports photography highlights
Sigma SD1 Merrill Sports photography highlights
42
excellent zoom range (24-360mm 15.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
61
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Travel photography advice
Sigma SD1 Merrill Travel photography advice
63
lighter than average in class (245g)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
very long zoom (360mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
54
weather proofing
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Landscape photography highlights
Sigma SD1 Merrill Landscape photography highlights
43
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
63
has manual focus
change lenses (Sigma SA mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Vlogging highlights
Sigma SD1 Merrill Vlogging highlights
30
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (245 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
9
no video
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Samsung HZ30W vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ30W and Sigma SD1 Merrill
 Samsung HZ30WSigma SD1 Merrill
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sigma
Model type Samsung HZ30W Sigma SD1 Merrill
Alternative name WB600 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2010-01-19 2012-04-10
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Dual True II
Sensor type CCD CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4800 x 3200
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sigma SA
Lens zoom range 24-360mm (15.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.2-5.8 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 76
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 16 secs -
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 245g (0.54 lb) 790g (1.74 lb)
Dimensions 107 x 61 x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1")
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 SLB-11A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double, Motion) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SC/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible)
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $280 $2,339