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Samsung HZ30W vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Samsung HZ30W front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony RX100 III Key Specs

Samsung HZ30W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-360mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 245g - 107 x 61 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Additionally Known as WB600
Sony RX100 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Announced May 2014
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100 II
  • Newer Model is Sony RX100 IV
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Samsung HZ30W vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Let's look more closely at the Samsung HZ30W and Sony RX100 III, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Samsung and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the HZ30W (12MP) and RX100 III (20MP) and the HZ30W (1/2.3") and RX100 III (1") posses totally different sensor size.

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The HZ30W was brought out 5 years earlier than the RX100 III and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Samsung HZ30W being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the HZ30W scores against the RX100 III with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ30W over the Sony RX100 III

 HZ30W RX100 III 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Samsung HZ30W

 RX100 III HZ30W 
AnnouncedMay 2014January 2010More recent by 52 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k230kCrisper screen (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Samsung HZ30W and Sony RX100 III

 HZ30W RX100 III 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Touch screen No Touch screen

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Samsung HZ30W has external dimensions of 107mm x 61mm x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 III has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") along with a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

See the Samsung HZ30W and Sony RX100 III in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the HZ30W versus the RX100 III.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HZ30W and RX100 III is 91 and 89 respectively.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony RX100 III top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements simply by going over technical specs. The graphic here might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the HZ30W and RX100 III.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The HZ30W because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony RX100 III will deliver extra detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older HZ30W is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony RX100 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Portrait photography features
Sony RX100 III Portrait photography features
29
you can focus manually
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
64
you can focus manually
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung HZ30W
Street photography with Sony RX100 III
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (245g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (290g)
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ30W as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Sports photography camera
42
amazing zoom range (24-360mm 15.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Samsung HZ30W
Travel photography with Sony RX100 III
63
lighter than average in class (245g)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (360mm)
lack of Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
85
lighter than competition in class (290 grams)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
fairly wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung HZ30W as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Landscape photography camera
43
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
73
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ30W as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 III as a Vlogging camera
30
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (245g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
80
fairly wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (290 grams)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Samsung HZ30W vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ30W and Sony RX100 III
 Samsung HZ30WSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Brand Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung HZ30W Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Also referred to as WB600 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-01-19 2014-05-15
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-360mm (15.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximum aperture f/3.2-5.8 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 16 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 245 grams (0.54 lb) 290 grams (0.64 lb)
Physical dimensions 107 x 61 x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 67
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 495
Other
Battery life - 320 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-11A NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double, Motion) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SC/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $280 $748