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Samsung HZ30W vs Sony a1

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Samsung HZ30W front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
82
Features
93
Overall
86

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony a1 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
  • Released January 2010
  • Alternative Name is WB600
Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Boost to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Released January 2021
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Samsung HZ30W vs Sony a1 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Samsung HZ30W versus Sony a1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Samsung and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the HZ30W (12MP) and a1 (50MP) and the HZ30W (1/2.3") and a1 (Full frame) use totally different sensor size.

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The HZ30W was introduced 12 years earlier than the a1 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Samsung HZ30W being a Compact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the HZ30W matches up against the a1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ30W over the Sony a1

 HZ30W a1 

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Samsung HZ30W

 a1 HZ30W 
ReleasedJanuary 2021January 2010More recent by 134 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k230kClearer display (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Samsung HZ30W and Sony a1

 HZ30W a1 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Samsung HZ30W features physical measurements of 107mm x 61mm x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony a1 has proportions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

See the Samsung HZ30W versus Sony a1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the HZ30W vs the a1.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony a1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the HZ30W and a1 is 91 and 61 respectively.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching a spec sheet. The photograph underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the HZ30W and a1.

As you can see, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The HZ30W using its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF harder and the Sony a1 will render greater detail using its extra 38MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The older HZ30W will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ30W as a Portrait photography camera
Sony a1 as a Portrait photography camera
29
manual focus
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
89
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/400s)
excellent sensor resolution (50MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ30W as a Street photography camera
Sony a1 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (245g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
79
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch focus
environment sealing
above average high ISO (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Sports photography features
Sony a1 Sports photography features
42
excellent zoom range (24-360mm 15.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
91
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
max fps high (30.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent sensor resolution (50MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery life (530 shots)
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Travel photography details
Sony a1 Travel photography details
63
lighter than competition (245 grams)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (360mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
74
better than average battery life (530 CIPA)
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
comes with touch focus
excellent sensor resolution (50MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Landscape photography features
Sony a1 Landscape photography features
43
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
88
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent sensor resolution (50MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
above average high ISO (32,000)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
better than average battery life (530 CIPA)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ30W as a Vlogging camera
Sony a1 as a Vlogging camera
30
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (245g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic support
37
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focus
high quality video (7680 x 4320 pixels)
does have microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Samsung HZ30W vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ30W and Sony a1
 Samsung HZ30WSony Alpha a1
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung HZ30W Sony Alpha a1
Also called as WB600 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Released 2010-01-19 2021-01-26
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 50 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 8640 x 5760
Max native ISO 3200 32000
Max enhanced ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 759
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 24-360mm (15.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.2-5.8 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Available lenses - 133
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 9,437k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.9x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 16 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 30.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/400 seconds
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 fps) 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98)
Max video resolution 1280x720 7680x4320
Video file format H.264 XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 245 grams (0.54 lbs) 737 grams (1.62 lbs)
Dimensions 107 x 61 x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 life - 530 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-11A NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double, Motion) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SC/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Card slots 1 Two
Launch cost $280 $6,498