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Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Samsung HZ30W front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-5 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
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5N
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Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Samsung HZ30W versus Sony NEX-5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. The image resolution of the HZ30W (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is relatively similar but the HZ30W (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizes.

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The HZ30W was brought out 4 months earlier than the NEX-5 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Samsung HZ30W being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief view of how the HZ30W scores against the NEX-5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ30W over the Sony NEX-5

 HZ30W NEX-5 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Samsung HZ30W

 NEX-5 HZ30W 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Samsung HZ30W and Sony NEX-5

 HZ30W NEX-5 
LaunchedJanuary 2010June 2010Similar generation
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Samsung HZ30W has got outer dimensions of 107mm x 61mm x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

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Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the HZ30W and the NEX-5.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HZ30W and NEX-5 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading specs. The graphic here should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the HZ30W and NEX-5.

All in all, both cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The HZ30W featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Sony NEX-5 will offer you more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography advice
29
has manual focus
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
72
manual focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Street photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Street photography factors
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (245g)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
76
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Samsung HZ30W
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5
42
long zoom range (24-360mm 15.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
52
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Samsung HZ30W
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5
63
lighter than competition in class (245g)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (360mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
59
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Landscape photography information
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography information
43
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
68
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Vlogging info
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging info
30
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (245g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone support
28
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
no mic support
Photography Glossary

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ30W and Sony NEX-5
 Samsung HZ30WSony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung HZ30W Sony Alpha NEX-5
Alternate name WB600 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2010-01-19 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-360mm (15.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.2-5.8 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 16 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 245 gr (0.54 lb) 287 gr (0.63 lb)
Dimensions 107 x 61 x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 69
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 796
Other
Battery life - 330 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-11A NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double, Motion) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SC/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $280 $599