Samsung HZ30W vs Sony A68: A Deep Dive Into Two Distinct Cameras

Choosing the right camera is a nuanced decision that weighs sensor quality, ergonomics, autofocus, and shooting style against budget and use case. Today, I’m comparing two very different models that could both fit into a photography enthusiast’s kit - but for quite divergent needs: the Samsung HZ30W, a compact superzoom announced back in 2010, and the Sony A68, a 2015 entry-level DSLR alternative that packs serious performance for its tier.

Both cameras come from reputable brands and occupy entirely separate niches: one is a small-sensor superzoom with impressive reach but modest image quality, while the other is a mid-level APS-C DSLR that bridges beginner and enthusiast functionalities. Through firsthand testing and detailed technical evaluation, I'll help you understand how these models perform in the real world across a broad range of photography styles and practical demands.

Let’s unpack their differences, starting with the basics.

Size, Ergonomics, and Build: Portability vs. Handling Presence

Comparing a compact superzoom to an entry-level DSLR poses immediate contrasts in size and user interface.

The Samsung HZ30W is delightfully pocketable, weighing just 245 grams with a slender 107 x 61 x 28 mm body. Its compactness makes it an alluring travel companion where size and discretion are priorities. However, the ergonomics lean towards casual shooters. The small fixed lens and limited grip can compromise handheld stability - especially when zoomed all the way out.

On the other hand, the Sony A68 is a heftier 610 grams camera measuring 143 x 104 x 81 mm. The classic DSLR-like grip, pronounced dials, and robust body make it a serious tool for photographers who want comfortable handling over long shoots. While the larger size reduces “stealth,” it improves balance, especially when paired with heftier lenses typical of APS-C systems.

For street photographers who prize portability, the HZ30W is less obtrusive but sacrifices physical controls; the A68 offers comprehensive tactile feedback, benefiting those who prefer manual adjustments. The balance between form factor and control ultimately depends on your shooting style and willingness to carry additional bulk.

Control Layout and Interface: Intuitive Tactility vs Simplicity

Physical design is one thing; the control interface fundamentally affects operation speed and satisfaction.

Samsung’s HZ30W simplifies controls to prioritize a streamlined, casual experience. A fixed 3-inch screen with 230k dots provides the main feedback. A handful of buttons cover exposure compensation, manual focus, and basic PASM modes. This restraint keeps the learning curve minimal but limits rapid customization or advanced shooting.

Sony’s A68 offers a more comprehensive array of controls geared towards enthusiasts. The top-panel includes traditional mode dial, dedicated exposure compensation, ISO, drive modes, and a tilting 2.7-inch screen with a higher 461k-dot resolution. Its 1440-dot electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage adds significant compositional confidence in bright conditions or for those who prefer eye-level framing.

This difference means the A68 is suited to photographers who want quick access to settings mid-shoot. The HZ30W’s limited buttons discourage frequent mode switching but streamline casual operation. If you prize expediency and control feedback during fast-paced subjects like sports or wildlife, the A68 clearly holds an advantage.

Sensor and Image Quality: Tiny Sensor vs APS-C Powerhouse

Core image quality differences derive primarily from sensor technology and size, impacting resolution, noise, color fidelity, and dynamic range.

Samsung’s HZ30W houses a 1/2.3-inch, 12MP CCD sensor - typical of compact superzooms of its generation - with a physical sensor area of just 28.07 mm². This small sensor compromises low-light performance and dynamic range but enables the very long 15x zoom lens from 24-360mm equivalent. Creative control around bokeh and depth of field is minimal, with maximum apertures ranging from f/3.2 to f/5.8.

The Sony A68 leverages a significantly larger APS-C CMOS sensor at 23.5 x 15.6 mm and 24MP resolution, with an effective sensor area of 366.6 mm², over 13 times larger than the HZ30W’s sensor. This sensor advantage directly translates to much better color depth, dynamic range (13.5 EV vs no official rating on the HZ30W), and noise handling at high ISO.

DyxoMark testing assigns the A68 an overall score of 79, placing it well above most compacts in image quality. It supports RAW shooting for precise post-processing control, whereas the HZ30W shoots solely JPG files.

For portrait, landscape, or low-light shooting, the Sony outclasses the Samsung with cleaner skin tones, richer detail, and less noise at high ISOs. The compact’s sensor size limits you to daylight or flash-reliant scenarios, with images prone to softening and noise in shadows.

Display and Viewfinder: Articulating Screen Meets Basic LCD

A photographer's experience is completed by their interface: screen size, resolution, articulation, and viewfinder quality.

The HZ30W’s fixed 3-inch screen is adequate but low-res (230k dots), making critical focus evaluation or image review less reliable. Its lack of autofocus assist areas or touchscreen limits interaction fluidity.

Sony’s A68 features a 2.7-inch tilting LCD with double the resolution (461k dots), allowing greater brightness adjustment and framing flexibility at difficult angles - especially for macro or low viewpoint work. Crucially, the A68 sports an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 1440k dots at 100% coverage and 0.57x magnification. This EVF aids in composing in bright conditions where LCD glare hampers visibility and offers useful real-time exposure preview.

In practice, the A68’s EVF and superior LCD provide far better visual feedback during shoots than the simple LCD-only Samsung.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Fast DSLR-Grade AF vs Slow Contrast Detection

Performance in autofocus speed, tracking, and burst rate can make or break action-intensive photography.

Samsung’s HZ30W utilizes a contrast-detect autofocus system with center weighting and limited tracking capabilities. Its AF is slow, falters in low light, and operates with limited focus points. Continuous autofocus or burst shooting modes are absent, reducing its suitability for fast-moving subjects.

Sony’s A68 features an advanced hybrid AF system combining 79 phase detection points (including 15 cross-type sensors) with contrast detection, enabling rapid focus acquisition, wider tracking accuracy, and multiple AF modes including face detection. It supports continuous AF during live view and an 8fps burst rate with autofocus tracking engaged - a measure of class-leading speed for an APS-C DSLR in its price bracket.

Wildlife, sports, or street photographers will find the A68 more reliable in capturing sharp images of fleeting moments, while the HZ30W comes up short in responsiveness and flexibility.

Lens System and Compatibility: Fixed Zoom vs Expansive Alpha Ecosystem

One fundamental difference stems from the lens systems and their adaptability.

Samsung HZ30W front Samsung HZ30W screen back Sony A68 front Sony A68 screen back

The HZ30W sports a fixed 24–360mm equivalent zoom lens with 15x optical zoom. While versatile on paper, the small sensor and narrow maximum aperture reduce background separation and sharpness at telephoto. The inability to switch lenses confines users to this single optical configuration, limiting creative perspectives and specialty lenses (e.g., fast primes, macros beyond its 3cm minimum focus).

The A68 accepts any lens from Sony’s vast Alpha mount ecosystem, which includes 143 compatible lenses, spanning ultra wide-primes, professional telephotos, macro lenses, fast aperture primes, and specialized optics like tilt-shift or fisheyes. This flexibility empowers photographers to tailor gear precisely to their subject or style, with better optical quality and control.

For example, portrait shooters can choose fast f/1.8 or f/1.4 glass for creamy bokeh, while wildlife photographers can mount super telephoto lenses with image stabilization.

Battery Life and Storage: Powering Extended Use

Shooting stamina greatly impacts usability in travel, event, and professional work.

Sony estimates 510 shots per charge for the A68, which aligns well with my field experience. Its larger lithium-ion battery maintains steady performance through demanding burst sequences and long exposures. The single SD card slot supports standard SDHC/SDXC cards and Memory Stick Pro Duo, though I recommend using fast UHS-I SD cards for optimal write speed.

In contrast, the HZ30W’s battery life is unspecified by the manufacturer and tends to fall short in real-world testing due to less efficient power management and constant zoom motor use during extended walks. The camera uses a proprietary SLB-11A rechargeable battery. Storage is limited to a single SD card slot, supporting SDHC/SDXC and internal memory - handy but not ideal for high-volume shooting.

Those who shoot extensively or professionally will appreciate the A68’s endurance advantage.

Connectivity and Additional Features: Practical but Basic

Connectivity features affect workflow, especially for sharing and tethered capture.

The Samsung HZ30W lacks Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC, making image transfer reliant on USB or card removal. It does have HDMI out for viewing, but no wireless control.

The Sony A68, while lacking Bluetooth, supports Eye-Fi cards for wireless transfers. It includes both USB 2.0 for tethering and HDMI output, plus a microphone input jack for external audio capture - a definite plus for videographers.

Neither camera features GPS or comprehensive weather sealing, which is notable for outdoor enthusiasts in challenging conditions.

Video Capabilities: Modest Compact vs Full HD DSLR

For those dabbling in video, quality and format matter.

The HZ30W records 720p HD video up to 30fps, encoded in H.264 - standard for its time but noticeably limited by fixed-focus lenses and lack of manual exposure control while recording.

Sony’s A68 pushes Full HD 1080p at 60i, 30p, and 24p with AVCHD and MPEG-4 codecs. It supports external microphones, offering far better audio quality and manual exposure during recording. For video enthusiasts, the A68 is the more flexible and capable offering.

Photography Disciplines Tested

Having explored the specs and key functional features, I'll summarize hands-on performance across common photography genres.

Portrait Photography

Sony’s A68 excels with its large APS-C sensor and expanded lens options that enable beautiful skin tones and creamy, controlled bokeh, especially when paired with fast primes. The 79-point AF system with face detection makes focusing on eyes reliable.

The Samsung’s HZ30W delivers decent portraits in good light but struggles with harsh shadows, noisy skin tones at high ISO, and indistinct backgrounds due to its small sensor and slow lens.

Landscape Photography

Sony’s superior dynamic range and resolution deliver detailed landscapes with ample room for post-processing. Despite no weather sealing, its rugged build and lens options make it suitable for outdoor use.

The Samsung’s compact size aids portability but the limited dynamic range and moderate resolution create flatter images with less tonality in shadows and highlights.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The A68’s fast burst rate, sophisticated tracking AF, and adaptability to telephoto lenses give it a strong edge in action photography.

The HZ30W falls behind due to its sluggish autofocus and lack of continuous shooting capabilities, making it a poor choice for demanding wildlife or sports.

Street Photography

Samsung’s discreet size favors candid street work, but the HZ30W’s slow AF and fixed lens limit spontaneity.

Sony is bulkier and more noticeable but faster focusing and customizable controls can snag fleeting moments with greater certainty.

Macro Photography

Sony’s lens ecosystem includes dedicated macro optics with high magnification and precise focusing.

Samsung’s fixed lens supports a minimum focus distance of 3cm but lacks the magnification and stabilization precision to compete.

Night and Astro Photography

Sony’s low-light performance, high ISO capabilities, and longer shutter speeds allow astrophotography and night scenes with less noise and more clarity.

Samsung struggles with noise and limited manual controls for long exposures.

Travel Photography

Samsung’s lightness and integrated zoom appeal for travel ease, but image quality compromises can frustrate those wanting sharp, vibrant images.

Sony’s versatile lens mount and superior image quality suit serious travel photographers willing to carry more gear.

Professional Work

Sony offers RAW shooting, tethered capture options, and robust controls necessary for workflows involving post-processing and client demands.

Samsung’s limited format and features restrict professional usability.

Performance Ratings and Value Assessment

Sony’s A68 scores a solid 79 on DxOMark with excellent color depth and dynamic range performances; Samsung’s HZ30W lacks formal scores but is understood to be far behind due to its sensor and age.

Genre-Specific Performance Breakdown

This visualizes how both cameras stack up at various specialties, confirming Sony’s clear dominance across demanding genres, while Samsung retains some merit in casual, portability-driven categories.

Final Recommendations

Ultimately, your choice depends on priorities more than raw specs.

• Samsung HZ30W is a compact, affordable superzoom suitable for casual photographers, travel enthusiasts prioritizing size, and those wanting a simple all-in-one solution with light zooming capability in daylight. Its modest price reflects its limited niche.

• Sony A68 suits enthusiasts and semi-professionals desiring better image quality, fast autofocus, superior manual controls, and a versatile lens system. It handles portrait, landscape, action, and low light far better, though at a heavier and pricier cost.

If you’re serious about learning photography or producing quality images across genres, the Sony A68 remains a wise investment. For snapshots and travel snapshots where convenience wins, the Samsung HZ30W holds value.

Photography equipment choices are deeply personal, but I hope this comprehensive head-to-head helps clarify what these two distinctly different cameras bring to the table. Feel free to reach out if you want advice tailored to your exact shoot style or budget.

Happy shooting!