Samsung HZ50W vs Sony HX90V

Samsung HZ50W vs Sony HX90V: An In-Depth Hands-On Comparison of Two Small-Sensor Superzooms

Choosing the right superzoom camera requires balancing compactness, image quality, and versatility - especially in the increasingly crowded market of small-sensor zoomers with ambitious focal lengths. I’ve spent many hours putting the Samsung HZ50W (aka WB5500) from 2010 and Sony’s 2015 compact powerhouse HX90V through their paces. Both cameras offer remarkable zoom reach, but under the hood they target slightly divergent user needs and photographic priorities.

Today, I’ll dissect these two cameras in intricate detail - from sensor characteristics and autofocus tech to ergonomics and real-world photographic output - across all major photography styles. Whether you’re a casual traveler, budding wildlife shooter, or a serious enthusiast looking for a budget-friendly second body, this review will equip you with expert insights to make the right call.

Let’s kick off with an upfront look at their physical dimensions and handling, as that frequently shapes usage patterns.

Ergonomics and Build: How Size and Handling Affect Your Shooting Experience

At first glance, the Samsung HZ50W and Sony HX90V couldn’t be more different in size and design philosophy.

The HZ50W comes in a bulky, SLR-esque bridge style body - tipping the scales at 426 grams and measuring a chunky 116x83x91 mm. This affords a comfortable grip and plenty of external dials for manual controls - a boon for users who like tactile feedback. In contrast, the HX90V is a compact, pocketable marvel, more than 40% lighter at 245 grams and drastically slimmer at 102x58x36 mm. It’s built for travel and discretion.

Examining the top view layout confirms this difference in ergonomic priorities.

The HZ50W sports a larger mode dial and a pronounced zoom rocker surrounding the shutter button, facilitating one-handed operation for zoom-heavy shooting. Meanwhile, the HX90V’s tightly packed layout cleverly fits in a popping electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a 0.5x magnification, rare at this size, improving framing precision outdoors - a feature Samsung lacks altogether.

In my tests, I found the Samsung body better suited for extended handheld sessions due to its grip heft and physical controls, while the Sony impressed with pocket convenience and rapid access to key functions via its multi-function dial and well-placed buttons.

Ergonomics often influence what genres each camera excels at - larger grip and controls benefit wildlife and sports shooters, while compactness favors street and travel photography.

Image Quality Foundations: Sensor Size, Resolution & Imaging Technology

Next, the beating heart: the sensor. Both cameras employ the common 1/2.3-inch sensor size family, but subtle variations influence image quality tremendously.

The Sony HX90V features a backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor, delivering 18 megapixels over a 28.07 mm² sensor area - slightly larger and more modern than the Samsung’s CCD sensor at 14 megapixels covering 27.72 mm². This tech difference matters for noise handling and dynamic range.

Our lab-tested image quality parameters affirm the Sony’s edge, especially in low-light sensitivity and ISO performance - its maximum native ISO leaps to 12800 versus 3200 on the Samsung with boosted ISO up to 6400. The older CCD tech in the HZ50W offers decent color depth in good light but struggles beyond ISO 400-800, introducing noise and losing detail.

Resolution-wise, the HX90V’s 4896x3672 max image output affords greater cropping freedom - critical for wildlife or detail-driven landscape shots, where you often reframe post-capture.

For landscape photographers craving high dynamic range and clean shadows, the Sony’s sensor nuances will yield subtly better separation of subtle tones and textures, especially in RAW workflow - although the Samsung does support RAW, its output files show more limited latitude.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Tracking Moving Subjects Through the Lens

Autofocus (AF) is another decisive performance area, especially in wildlife and sports scenarios where split-second timing is all-important.

The Samsung HZ50W employs contrast-detection AF only - a system reliable but slower and prone to hunting under low contrast or fast-action conditions. It lacks face or eye detection and does not support AF tracking or continuous AF modes, limiting it to single-shot AF.

The Sony HX90V leverages an enhanced contrast-detection AF enriched with face detection and tracking, enabling continuous autofocus at burst speeds up to 10 fps (frames per second). This fosters confident capture of unpredictable subjects like children, pets, or athletes.

The Sony also includes macro focus down to 5 cm, compared to the Samsung’s 10 cm minimum - allowing tighter close-ups with greater detail resolution aided by its AF precision.

My experience in-field was telling: The HX90V’s eye and face detection kept targets sharper during casual portraits and street shots. Sports shots showed better frame composition continuity, thanks to the fast burst and tracking combination. Samsung’s AF occasionally lagged, with noticeable delays during zoom or low-contrast scenes.

Display and Viewfinder: Composing and Reviewing Your Shots with Confidence

The ability to see your shot clearly is non-negotiable; the HZ50W and HX90V diverge notably here.

Samsung’s fixed 3-inch LCD offers just 230k dots resolution, which in bright sunlight can feel dim and pixelated. There’s no touchscreen or tilt mechanism, restricting composition angles for macro or low-level photography.

Sony’s HX90V pulls ahead with a tilting 3-inch LCD boasting 921k dots - almost four times Samsung’s resolution - and a versatile flip-up design perfect for selfies or overhead shoots. Though neither screen is touchscreen-enabled, the interface feels more modern and responsive on the Sony.

Additionally, the HX90V’s built-in EVF at 638k dots delivers a sharp, eye-level view with full frame coverage - invaluable when shooting outdoors or in bright daylight when the LCD can wash out.

In practical use, the Samsung’s display feels dated - while sufficient for casual reviewing, humming through menus and composing in tricky light can get frustrating. The Sony’s display and EVF combo make for a far more pleasant, flexible shooting experience.

Lens Range and Optical Performance: Zoom and Aperture Comparisons

Both cameras advertise full superzoom credentials, but looking deeper reveals nuanced trade-offs in focal length and maximum aperture.

The Samsung HZ50W offers a 26–676 mm equivalent zoom - roughly 26x optical range with F2.8 at wide and F5.0 at telephoto. The Sony HX90V edges this range out slightly, covering 24–720 mm (30x optical zoom) but starting with a slower F3.5 wide aperture that narrows to F6.4 at maximum zoom.

What does this mean practically? The Samsung’s faster wide aperture (F2.8) helps in lower light and provides a shallower depth of field when shooting landscapes and portraits. However, past the mid-zoom range, the Sony extends reach further but with more restricted light transmission - demanding steadier hands or higher ISO settings.

Optical image stabilization (both models offer “Optical IS”) is essential here to counter handshake, especially at extreme telephoto ends. Both do a commendable job stabilizing handheld shots; however, Sony’s BSI sensor and advanced processing work synergistically with IS, yielding sharper telephoto results more reliably.

Real-World Photography Tests: Strengths and Weaknesses Across Genres

To provide context beyond specs, I conducted extensive field tests in diverse photography disciplines. Here’s how these cameras performed in practice:

Portrait Photography

Samsung’s brighter wide aperture lens (F2.8) produces more attractive background separation (bokeh) than the Sony, lending portraits a pleasing blur effect even in challenging lighting. Unfortunately, the HZ50W’s lack of face and eye AF hurts subject tracking accuracy.

Sony’s face detection autofocus and faster burst shooting make it the superior choice for casual portraiture, delivering crisp results with consistent focus - though bokeh is more restrained given the slower maximum aperture.

Landscape Photography

Landscape enthusiasts will appreciate Sony’s higher resolution sensor and superior dynamic range, capturing subtle shadow and highlight detail - critical when dealing with backlit scenes or sunrise/sunset gradients. Additionally, the HX90V’s tilting touchscreen facilitated composing low-angle shots creatively.

Samsung’s faster aperture assists in low-light or dawn shots but struggles to match Sony’s color accuracy and detail.

Neither camera offers weather sealing, so caution is necessary in harsh environments.

Wildlife Photography

The Samsung’s slower AF system and lower frame rates hold it back for fast action wildlife or birds in flight. In contrast, Sony’s 10 fps continuous shooting combined with face/tracking AF yields more keeper-worthy action shots. The HX90V’s longer 720 mm reach (at 30x zoom) also gave me better framing versatility.

Sports Photography

Similar to wildlife, Sony dominates with speed and tracking. However, neither camera is truly optimized for professional sports due to small sensors and limited buffer depth. For casual sports actions, HX90V is more responsive and reliable.

Street Photography

Here the compact Sony reigns as my preferred pick - pocket-friendly build, silent shutter (not available on the Samsung), and effective face detection allow unobtrusive candid shooting.

Samsung’s bulk and slower AF make discreet street shooting cumbersome.

Macro Photography

Both cameras have macro capabilities, but Sony’s 5 cm minimum focusing distance and precise AF yield sharper, more detailed close-ups. The HX90V’s tilting LCD further aids composition of ground-level subjects.

Night and Astro Photography

Samsung’s limited max ISO and CCD sensor prove challenging in night scenarios, producing noisy images beyond ISO 800. Sony’s BSI-CMOS excels with cleaner high ISO performance, enabling handheld shots under moonlight or urban nightscape with less grain.

Neither camera supports long exposure manual bulb modes typically required for advanced astrophotography, but Sony’s higher sensitivity makes it the better novice-friendly night shooter.

Video Capabilities

Samsung caps at 1280x720 HD video at 30 fps with no external microphone input - very basic functionality given its age.

Sony HX90V supports full HD 1080p at 60 fps, with various frame rates and AVCHD/XAVC S codecs, delivering smooth, high-quality video. Optical stabilization aids handheld footage stability, enhancing usability for casual videographers. Still, lack of mic input is a limitation for serious filmmakers.

Travel Photography

Sony’s small size, tilting screen, and long zoom make it an excellent travel companion. Battery life rated around 360 shots is respectable for a compact, and built-in GPS and NFC offer convenient location tagging and easy sharing.

Samsung’s size and weight detract from portability, and older wireless offerings are absent. While versatile optically, it feels dated as a travel shooter.

Professional Work

Neither camera is designed for professional photography - both have limited manual controls compared to DSLRs/mirrorless, slower workflows, and modest sensor size. However, Samsung’s raw support (rare at the time) offers greater editing latitude than Sony’s JPEG-only output.

Sony facilitates faster workflow with better autofocus and storage compatibility but limits post-processing flexibility.

Technical Deep Dive: Build Quality, Connectivity, and Battery Life

Build-wise, neither camera is weather sealed or ruggedized - standard fare for budget superzooms.

Connectivity reflects their eras: Sony HX90V includes built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, and GPS - features absent on Samsung, useful for instant sharing and geotagging.

Battery life favors Sony’s 360-shot rating over Samsung’s unspecified life. The lightweight Sony NP-BX1 battery is easier to carry spares for.

Both feature HDMI and USB 2.0 ports for standard data transfer.

Image Samples and Scores Reveal the Verdict in Pixels and Points

To give you tangible sense of image quality, here’s a side-by-side sample gallery comparing JPEG output from both cameras under identical conditions.

Samsung HZ50W front Samsung HZ50W screen back Sony HX90V front Sony HX90V screen back

You’ll notice Sony’s images boast finer detail and better noise control - especially in shadowed and telephoto crops - while Samsung presents a more natural, albeit softer look.

Our overall performance ratings consolidate findings:

Sony HX90V scores strongly in autofocus speed, low-light capability, continuous shooting, and portability. Samsung HZ50W excels slightly in lens speed and manual controls but falls short in speed and modern features.

Breaking this down by photography styles underscores the nuance:

Final Recommendations: Which Superzoom to Buy in 2024?

So, who should buy which camera today?

Get the Samsung HZ50W if:

• You prioritize a fast wide aperture lens (F2.8) for portraits or low-light stills.
• You want solid manual control feel in a bridge-style body.
• You shoot predominantly still subjects and don’t rely on burst or tracking AF.
• Budget is tight and you find used models at bargain prices.

Choose the Sony HX90V if:

• You want the newest tech, including face detection AF and up to 10fps burst for action.
• Portability and discretion are key for street, travel, or everyday shooting.
• You require better video quality and faster, more reliable autofocus.
• You appreciate GPS and wireless features to streamline sharing.
• You expect superior image quality in low light and need higher resolution for cropping.

Closing Thoughts

While both the Samsung HZ50W and Sony HX90V are part of the small-sensor superzoom family, their divergent designs and tech reflect changing photographic priorities over their five-year gap. The Samsung is a solid, user-friendly bridge camera with emphasis on lens speed and manual control comfort, but it’s increasingly showing its age in autofocus and video.

The Sony HX90V epitomizes compact versatility with superior AF, image quality, and practical features - albeit at a higher price point and with a slightly slower lens wide open. Its package feels more future-proof and better adapted for the fast-paced, connected workflows of today’s photographers.

Having handled both extensively, I wholeheartedly recommend the Sony HX90V for most users seeking the best balance of portability, performance, and flexibility in a small-sensor superzoom - especially those venturing into diverse photography styles or demanding more from autofocus and image quality.

Meanwhile, if your budget is constrained and you primarily shoot in good light, the Samsung HZ50W remains a commendable value offering.

This review is built on hours of dual-camera testing in diverse conditions, balancing specs with real-world usability, and is intended to empower photographers to pick gear best suited for their unique artistic pursuits.