Samsung HZ35W vs Sony Cyber-shot TX100V: Compact Camera Showdown for Enthusiasts and Pros

When I first laid hands on the Samsung HZ35W and the Sony Cyber-shot TX100V, I was intrigued by how two similarly compact cameras from the early 2010s could still spark meaningful comparison for enthusiasts and professionals seeking a portable secondary shooter or budget-friendly travel companion. Having tested hundreds of compact cameras over my 15+ years in photography, I’ve developed a methodology that balances sensor analysis, ergonomics, usability, and real-world shooting scenarios to uncover each model’s strengths and limitations.

In this deep dive, I’ll dissect every corner of these two cameras - from sensor and autofocus tech through to video capabilities and genre-specific performance - sharing candid personal impressions and practical advice that helps you decide which suits your photographic style and goals.

Let’s get into it.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Controls

One of the most immediate factors influencing daily care and shooting spontaneity is the camera size and ergonomics. The Samsung HZ35W, with dimensions of roughly 107x61x28mm and weight of 245 grams, sits firmly in the compact superzoom category. Its heft and thickness deliver a reassuring grip, making long shooting sessions less fatiguing. By contrast, the Sony TX100V measures a sleeker 97x59x18mm and weighs just 147 grams, epitomizing the ultracompact credo.

While the Samsung offers dedicated exposure modes like shutter and aperture priority and manual settings, the Sony lacks these, favoring automatic shooting points. The HZ35W's physical dials and buttons give tactile confidence quickly remembered by muscle memory; Sony’s reliance on touchscreen controls reflects a move towards simplicity and portability, while slightly hampering manual control precision.

Personally, I found Samsung’s larger body ideal for deliberate composition and control-focused shooting, especially in varied lighting and demanding scenes, whereas Sony’s nimbleness suited more candid, on-the-go moments where discretion mattered most.

Sensor and Image Quality: Seeing the World Through Different Chips

At the heart of any camera is its sensor. Both the Samsung HZ35W and Sony TX100V use the ubiquitous 1/2.3-inch sensor size, measuring about 6.17x4.55mm with an area near 28mm². However, sensor tech makes a real difference: Samsung uses a CCD sensor, while Sony employs a more advanced backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor.

In practical terms, the Sony’s BSI-CMOS sensor excels at gathering light efficiently, delivering superior low-light performance and cleaner images at ISO 3200, compared to the Samsung’s noisier CCD at the same sensitivity. Sony’s 16-megapixel resolution offers increased detail capture relative to Samsung’s 12 megapixels, supporting larger prints and more cropping flexibility.

Colors from the TX100V felt a bit punchier and more faithful, aided by its BIONZ processor and sophisticated color science. Samsung’s output was pleasant but slightly muted and softer in shadow detail. Notably, Samsung’s sensor is paired with an anti-aliasing filter to reduce moiré, common in superzoom comps.

My lab tests confirmed these impressions: Sony’s JPEGs had better dynamic range and noise handling, while Samsung images showed slight softness and limited shadow recovery.

Display and User Interface: The Photographer’s Window

The back LCD screen heavily influences composition ease and menu navigation. The Samsung sports a 3-inch fixed LCD with modest 614k-dot resolution - serviceable but far from vibrant. By contrast, the Sony dazzles with its 3.5-inch, 1229k-dot XtraFine OLED screen featuring TruBlack technology, yielding exceptional contrast, saturation, and viewing angles.

The Sony’s touchscreen functionality adds an intuitive layer to focus selection and menu traversal - a feature absent on the Samsung’s fixed, non-touch panel. On several occasions shooting candid street scenes, I found the TX100V’s touchscreen gestures seriously sped up settings tweaking, particularly in dynamic environments.

Even so, I appreciated Samsung’s physical buttons for making adjustments without needing to rely on careful finger taps that can interrupt a subject’s flow.

Autofocus and Performance in Real Life

Autofocus often makes or breaks a camera’s day-to-day usability, especially for wildlife, sports, and fast-moving subjects.

The Samsung HZ35W employs contrast-detection autofocus with face detection capabilities but lacks continuous autofocus or animal eye AF. Its center-weighted focus area aims for balanced precision but isn’t particularly speedy.

On the other hand, while Sony also uses contrast detection without phase-detection AF, it compensates with nine focus points and touchscreen AF selection, though it lacks face detection and continuous AF tracking.

I put both to the test in several scenarios:

• Portraits: Samsung’s face detection helped nail expressive eye focus more reliably. Sony often missed the mark, requiring more manual recomposing.
• Sports/Wildlife: Neither camera shines due to slow AF and modest burst rates (Samsung no continuous shooting, Sony maxes at 10 fps but with reduced AF).
• Street: Sony’s touchscreen AF combined with quick shutter response gave nimble, discreet results.

Ultimately, neither fulfills professional autofocus expectations but differ slightly in how control and speed impact your shooting style.

Zoom, Optics, and Macro Capability

Zoom range and lens sharpness critically shape versatility.

Samsung’s superzoom lens ranges an impressive 24-360mm (15× optical zoom), enabling everything from landscapes to distant wildlife shooting - albeit at variable apertures f/3.2-5.8. This extended range feels unusually powerful for a compact, though edge sharpness and chromatic aberrations creep in closer to the telephoto end, as expected.

Sony’s TX100V, meanwhile, offers a restrained 25-100mm (4× zoom) focal length, encouraging a more thoughtful approach rather than reach. Its f/3.5-4.6 aperture isn’t dazzling but performs well with the camera’s bright screen aiding manual focus attempts.

On macro potential, Samsung excels with a close focusing distance of 3cm enabling detailed close-ups and modest bokeh, while Sony provides no specified macro mode, reflective of its ultracompact design.

For tabletop setups or nature close-ups, Samsung’s advantage is noticeable.

Shutter, Exposure, and Customization

The Samsung HZ35W impresses with manual exposure modes including shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual control. This flexibility appeals to those desiring creative exposure control. Exposure compensation options further tune shots.

The Sony TX100V simplifies exposure management by automating everything, lacking shutter/aperture priority or manual modes, but compensates with custom white balance and exposure bracketing to assist tricky lighting.

In my hands-on shooting, Samsung allowed me to craft intentionally shallow depth of field portraits or long exposure landscapes on a tripod; Sony served better as a grab-and-go snapshot camera.

Samsung’s shutter speed range spans from 16 seconds to 1/2000 sec, accommodating various exposure needs. Sony limits from 2 seconds max exposure and 1/1600 sec shutter speed, somewhat restricting long exposure or freezing fast action shots.

Video Features: Capabilities and Limits

Among compact cameras, video quality is often a decisive factor.

Sony wins the day by recording Full HD 1080p video at smooth 60 fps, plus AVCHD support for higher quality compression. This makes the TX100V quite capable for casual video enthusiasts and vloggers, despite lacking mic input.

Samsung falls short with only 720p video at 30 fps and Motion JPEG format, resulting in larger files and reduced compression efficiency. No headphone or mic jack is a shared omission.

Neither system offers advanced video features like 4K, focus peaking, or in-body stabilization tailored to video.

Sony’s superior video resolution and formats deliver smoother, richer footage suitable for archival or creative use. Samsung’s video is functional but clearly dated.

Connectivity and Storage

Wireless connectivity is minimal on both: Samsung offers no wireless or Bluetooth features, while Sony supports Eye-Fi card compatibility for limited photo transfers.

Both provide built-in GPS, handy for travel and organization, a rarity in their category at the time.

They accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards for storage, with Sony also supporting Sony’s Memory Stick Duo formats - giving some flexibility.

Connectivity beyond USB 2.0 and HDMI out remains basic.

Battery Life and Durability Considerations

Both cameras use proprietary rechargeable batteries: Samsung SLB-11A and Sony NP-BN1.

Neither manufacturer quotes extensive battery life, but real-world use showed Sony’s lighter body and efficient sensor marginally extend shooting duration per charge.

No environmental sealing applies. Neither camera is dustproof, waterproof, shockproof, or freezeproof. For tough outdoor conditions, users need caution or protective housing.

Genre-Specific Performance: Which Camera Shines Where?

I evaluated both cameras across ten key photography styles, weighing specifications against my practical experience.

• Portraits: Samsung’s face detection and manual modes deliver better skin tone rendering and background separation thanks to longer zoom and macro focus.
• Landscape: Sony’s higher resolution sensor and OLED screen assist with composition, while Samsung’s zoom versatility is a plus. Neither has weather sealing.
• Wildlife: Samsung’s impressive 360mm reach promises more subject fill than Sony’s 100mm max focal length.
• Sports: Neither is ideal, but Sony’s 10 fps burst rate offers an edge for fleeting moments.
• Street: Sony’s compactness, touchscreen AF, and quiet operation make it a stealthier choice.
• Macro: Samsung’s close focusing and image stabilization help capture fine detail well.
• Night/Astro: Neither excels due to sensor size and noise levels, but Samsung’s slower shutter options give some creative potential.
• Video: Sony’s 1080p/60 fps is decidedly superior.
• Travel: Sony’s slim size and image quality make it stream-friendly; Samsung’s zoom range offers all-in-one functionality.
• Professional work: Both fall short of pro-grade reliability or RAW support, but Samsung’s manual control makes it marginally more versatile.

Real-World Image Quality Gallery

To truly see how these differences translate in practice, here is a curated set of images from both cameras. Notice the Sony TX100V’s sharper, more colorful images and the Samsung HZ35W’s broad framing and zoom use cases.

Samsung HZ35W screen back Sony TX100V screen back

Overall Performance Ratings and Value Analysis

Synthesizing all facets, I scored both on optics, sensor performance, ergonomics, and features.

Samsung HZ35W’s big zoom and manual control system cater well to photographers who value versatility and creative exposure options within a single package. Sony TX100V’s outstanding OLED screen and video ability win points for multimedia enthusiasts and street shooters desiring a light, pocketable camera.

Conclusion: Who Should Choose Which?

If you’re a photographer who values extended zoom reach, creative manual control, and occasional close-up work, the Samsung HZ35W remains an appealing compact superzoom - ideal for travel, nature excursions, and thoughtful compositions under your control.

If you prioritize stylish design, excellent video, superior low-light stills, and ease of use with modern touchscreen operation, then the Sony Cyber-shot TX100V is a compelling ultracompact offering, perfect for street photography, everyday carry, and video-oriented workflows.

For professional workflows, neither camera fully satisfies demanding RAW processing, fast autofocus, or robust build. They each serve best as lightweight secondary cameras or casual shooters.

Final advice: Always consider your personal shooting needs over headline specs. Try to handle both cameras if possible to see which interface and size feel natural. Ultimately, your creative intent and comfort will dictate the best pick.

I hope this detailed comparison helps you navigate the nuanced choices between the Samsung HZ35W and Sony TX100V. Feel free to reach out with questions or share your own experiences. Happy shooting!