Samsung HZ15W
Manufacturer: Samsung Part number: EC-HZ15WABP/US
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Samsung HZ15W has good parts and features, but ultimately disappoints on the whole.
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CNET editors' review
Samsung HZ15W price range: $247.68 - $329.99
- Reviewed by: Joshua Goldman
- Reviewed on: 11/05/2009
The good: Good feature set; miniHDMI out; 24mm-equivalent wide-angle lens with 10x zoom.
The bad: Subpar photo quality; menu system too spread out.
The bottom line: The Samsung HZ15W has good parts and features, but ultimately disappoints on the whole.
The Samsung HZ15W is a camera that looks good on paper but doesn't live up to the specs. The main attraction is the 24mm-equivalent wide-angle lens with 10x zoom, which is certainly a plus in a camera this size, giving you a lot of shooting flexibility for less than $280. It also has plenty of features to keep you experimenting with your photography. On the other hand, the lens doesn't result in the greatest pictures and finding what features you want to use can be trying at times. I'm sure the HZ15W will have its fans, but there are better executed compact megazoom cameras for the money.
| Key specs | Samsung HZ15W |
| Price (MSRP) | $279.99 |
| Dimensions (WHD) | 4.1 x 2.4 x 1.4 inches |
| Weight (with battery and media) | 8.7 ounces |
| Megapixels, image sensor size, type | 12 megapixels, 1/2.3-inch CCD |
| LCD size, resolution/viewfinder | 3-inch LCD, 230K dots/None |
| Lens (zoom, aperture, focal length) | 10x, f3.3-5.8, 24-240mm (35mm equivalent) |
| File format (still/video) | JPEG/H.264 (.MP4) |
| Highest resolution size (still/video) | 4,000x3,000 pixels/ 1,280x720 at 30fps |
| Image stabilization type | Optical and digital |
| Battery type, rated life | Lithium ion rechargeable, 280 shots |
| Storage media | SD/SDHC |
As you'd expect from a camera with a long zoom, wide-angle lens, the HZ15W is neither small nor light. It's pretty amazing the camera is as compact as it is, though, and it'll comfortably fit in a small bag or jacket pocket or rather awkwardly in a pants pocket. From the front it's a nice-looking camera, too, as it's basically all lens and hand grip. On top is a standard simple arrangement of controls: power button, shutter release with zoom ring, and a shooting mode dial. On back things get a little weird. To the top right of the reasonably bright and sharp 3-inch LCD is a rocker switch sitting in the thumb rest. The Command Lever, as it's called, is primarily used for adjusting exposure compensation, though it can be programmed to adjust ISO or white-balance options instead. Its location, however, makes it open to accidental presses while doing things such as zooming the lens or, you know, taking a picture.
Below that sits a Function (Fn) button that brings up a context-sensitive shooting menu. If you choose to set the Command Lever to change ISO or white balance, a single press of the Fn button will then bring up exposure compensation, which you can then adjust with the command lever. A second press of Fn gives you the actual shooting controls.
Then there's a four-way directional pad for navigation and changing display information, setting a timer, entering macro and manual focus, or turning on the flash. At its center is a Menu/OK button for accessing basic shooting, sound, display, and system settings. At the bottom of the control panel is a Playback button as well as an Effects button. This is for selecting a color style, a photo filter, or tweaking sharpness, contrast, or color saturation. Why these needed their own menu with a dedicated button, I don't know, but three menu systems is really one too many to keep track of in a point-and-shoot camera.
What was nice to find was a miniHDMI jack on the left side of the camera in addition to Samsung's proprietary charging/AV/USB jack on the right side.
| General shooting options | Samsung HZ15W |
| ISO sensitivity (full resolution) | Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,600 |
| White balance | Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent L, Fluorescent H, Underwater, Custom |
| Recording modes | Smart Auto, Auto, Program, Manual, Scene, Movie, Dual IS, Beauty Shot |
| Focus modes | Multi-AF, Center AF, Manual focus, Selection AF, Face Detection AF, Macro AF |
| Metering modes | Multi, Center-weighted average, Spot, Face Detection AE |
| Color effects | Normal, Classic, Calm, Cool, Retro, Forest, Vivid, Soft, B&W, Sepia, Red, Green, Blue, Negative, Custom |
| Burst mode shot limit (full resolution) | Unlimited continuous |
Shooting modes range from full auto to full manual. The Smart Auto mode automatically chooses the appropriate camera settings based on 11 scene types. Those who can actually ascertain what their subjects are can choose from 15 scene-shooting options including a Frame Guide option that lets you compose a shot, capture part of the precomposed scene on screen, and then hand the camera off to someone else to take the picture while you get in the shot. Those who don't want to touch any settings can put it in Auto, which locks most options from being changed. Then you get the other end of the shooting spectrum with a standard Program mode for changing everything except shutter speed and aperture as well as a full manual option with control of aperture (though there are only four stops to choose from) and shutter speeds from 16 seconds to 1/1,500 of a second. The Mode dial also has spots for shooting using both optical and electronic image stabilization, Samsung's face-smoothing Beauty Shot portrait mode, and a movie mode capable of HD-quality clips with use of the zoom while recording and the mic stays live. You will hear the lens motor but barely, and I'd rather have that than a dead mic.
Megazooms--compact or otherwise--are generally not fast performers. The HZ15W, follows suit, but is at least on par with the competition. The camera takes 2.8 seconds to go from off to first shot, but then just requires an average wait of 2.2 seconds between subsequent shots. Turning on the flash slows that time to 3.2 seconds. It takes a reasonable 0.5 second to focus and shoot in good light and only goes up to 0.7 second in dim conditions. The camera's standard continuous drive option is capable of 0.7 frames per second. There is a full-resolution high-speed continuous mode, but the LCD goes completely blank while it's in use. In our informal tests the mode nearly doubles the standard continuous frame rate.
The photo quality from the HZ15W is fairly mediocre--good for Web use, 4x6-inch prints, and maybe the occasional 8x10. Like a lot of point-and-shoot cameras, the results are at their best when using ISOs below ISO 200. Above that mark and you'll end up with noticeable noise/artifacts and a significant loss of detail, sharpness, and color accuracy. In Macro mode, the camera can produce shots with good fine detail and sharpness, but may look oversharpened and crunchy. Detail and sharpness aren't good out of macro, though, and generally appear overprocessed when viewed at full size.
There's nearly no barrel distortion at the camera's widest lens position. More noticeable (but barely) is some pincushion distortion when the lens is fully extended. However, the amount of chromatic aberration in my test shots was well above normal and the purple/blue fringing not only made frequent appearances, but was visible even when pictures were viewed at smaller sizes. Overall, colors are pleasing and in a standard shooting mode like Program or Manual they're reasonably accurate. Exposure was OK, but highlights had a tendency to blow out.
Video quality is good in general, though low-light movies are loaded with noise. This is typical of video from compact cameras, however. It is appreciated that the zoom does function while recording and that Samsung chose not to cut the mic; the lens moves reasonably quietly.
Again, I'm sure there are people that will be thrilled enough by the Samsung HZ15W's lens and feature set to overlook its unremarkable photo quality and frequently frustrating menu and control design. But with similar--and generally better--options out there from Panasonic, Canon, Sony, and Kodak, it's a much tougher sell.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
| Time to first shot | Typical shot-to-shot time | Shutter lag (dim) | Shutter lag (typical) |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test digital cameras.
User reviews
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Great digital camera for the money!
by vencid78 on May 15, 2009
Pros: Compact, 10X optical zoom, 5X digital zoom, 1280x780 ( 780p) HD video recording, great photos, manual settings and so much more...
Cons: I have only one problem with this great camera - noise coming from the zoom in Video recording! However comparing to the Pana TZ7 and Canon sx200 ( no video zoom ) the video quality is much much better!
Summary: I am not a proffesional photographer and this is a review from a regular consumer! Lets start with the size of this digital camera - it is very small for ...
Summary: I am not a proffesional photographer and this is a review from a regular consumer! Lets start with the size of this digital camera - it is very small for what you have in it! It is almost as small as a point and shoot! Keep in mind you have a 24mm ultra-wide lens that uses a good 60% of the size of the camera, plus the 10x Optical zoom!
The quality of the pictures is superb! This is not because of the 12 mp, but the size of the lens and the built-in noise reduction engine! Speaking of the lens - in the point and shoot class i think this is the widest lens out there!
The video recording - this is why i wanted this digital camera! It has a 1280x780 ( 780p ) video recording at 30 frames per second! If you have to go to 60fps you can but you have to drop the resolution a lot! I love the pause function in video mode, that gives you the option of taking a video, pause and continue with the video! The final product will connect the two ( or more ) videos in one! Also, as you review the video you can pause it and take a still picture of a frame!
Zoom in video mode - yes, i think this is what will sell this digital camera! You can record a video and zoom in or out ( is this a camera or video camcorder??? )! A small problem is the noise when you zoom in video mode!
The best for the last - HDMI type C connection! You can easily connect your HD LCDTV with the Samsung HZ15W via HDMI cable and view your pictures and HD 720p videos!2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Camera, Great Price
by hafenbrack on November 9, 2009
Pros: Have been using this camera for a few months now, and we love the pictures it takes. Also, the time between shots is excellent. The only camera's I found to be faster were the Sony's which were very much in consideration.
Cons: Agree with the revew that at times, finding where the settings are can be a pain, once you know where things are though, you'll never forget.
Summary: The final factor for purchasing this camera vs teh Sony was that we already had several SDHC cards and didn't want to invest in MS Duo.
Summary: The final factor for purchasing this camera vs teh Sony was that we already had several SDHC cards and didn't want to invest in MS Duo.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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All desired features in compact, easy to use camera.
by marving on August 18, 2009
Pros: Compared with Panasonic ZS3 at $100 more but Samsung has manual controls, 10X zoom, HD video and zoom. Easy, positive controls. Fast focus with minimal time delay. Feels good in your hand and not tinny. Great value and features.
Cons: AS amateur I have not explored all features but found no negatives so far.
Summary: I researched many compact cameras and was set on Panasonic ZS-3 but the Samsung was shown at store and seemed to fit my needs at $100 less. My recent Alaska ...
Summary: I researched many compact cameras and was set on Panasonic ZS-3 but the Samsung was shown at store and seemed to fit my needs at $100 less. My recent Alaska trip with overcast conditions did not suffer from lack of detail with no flash. Many more features than Z3S including manual settings and HD movies with zoom. Color is brilliant and true in prints. Feels better built with metal case which I have already dropped with no damage. ZS3 does not feel as sturdy in my hand.
In summary, a great camera with one of widest angle lenses made, superb 10X zoom, recording mode with and without video.
12 Megapixels and HDMI connection to allow for TV viewing.
What more do you need in a compact camera priced around $300?1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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style,hdmi,720p video,nice photos
by BrujoSalazar on June 6, 2009
Pros: wide angle, 720p video,hdmi, decent weight, and dimensions, manual mode, plenty of options. great mics, swanky baby!
Cons: noisy video playback, low light recording hard, not big but sdhc with battery is a pain, wish had microsdhc slot also,
Summary: the guy before wrote his response very well, i feel nearly the same! the most annoting part is the video playback catching the processor noise, its very noticeable. i understand ...
Summary: the guy before wrote his response very well, i feel nearly the same! the most annoting part is the video playback catching the processor noise, its very noticeable. i understand this is a digicam and not camcorder, but its a bit blah. most of all i like the cameras multiple options, video in 720p, pause option, it stores when you press play again or turn dial by mistake, the hdmi ability is cool, wide angle is nice since it seems i use it often, many options including many in manual mode, reminds me of my nikon dslr, it seems when using camer on auto and timer offers best pix for my shaky hands! i will post more of my non pro opinion asap!
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Samsung
- Part number: EC-HZ15WABP/US
- Description: The 12 megapixel HZ15W offers consumers one of the most powerful lenses on a compact point-and-shoot digital camera, featuring a 24mm ultra-wide angle Schneider lens coupled with a generous 10x optical zoom. For blur-free images, especially when using the HZ15W at its maximum zoom, Samsung includes both Optical and Digital Image Stabilization. Optical Image Stabilization can be used independently or shooters can choose Dual Image Stabilization, which combines the strengths of Optical and Digital Image Stabilization. The HZ15W puts high-definition video recording in the palm of users' hands. With the HZ15W, consumers have the ability to record high-definition video at a resolution of 720p, and utilize the camera's full 10x optical zoom. Samsung also incorporates H.264 compression and offers consumers true HDMI connectivity, which allows the camera to be connected directly to an HDTV without the need for a cradle. Additionally, the HZ15W's ultra-clear, three-inch LCD screen is sure to turn heads and gives consumers the ability to easily frame their shots and review their images and video in any condition, even in direct sunlight. Designed for a range of consumers, including entry-level photographers and advanced amateurs, the HZ15W offers a variety of shooting modes, including manual. The camera's manual shooting mode allows users to manually configure settings such as shutter speed, aperture, exposure, and ISO values. The HZ15W also features a highly-intuitive suite of automatic controls designed to help improve one's ability to take great digital images. The camera's advanced automatic shooting options include Face Detection, Smile Shot, Blink Detection, Beauty Shot, as well as Smart Auto, which automatically selects the appropriate scene mode for the user, and Smart Album, which simplifies the process of searching for an image saved on a memory card.
General
- Product Type Digital camera - Compact
- Width 4.1 in
- Depth 1.5 in
- Height 2.4 in
- Weight 7.7 oz
- Enclosure Color Gray
Main Features
- Resolution 12.2 megapixels
- Color Support Color
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Total Pixels 12,400,000 pixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 12,200,000 pixels
- Light Sensitivity ISO 80, ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600, ISO auto, ISO 3200 (3Mpix)
- Digital Zoom 5 x
- Shooting Modes Frame movie mode
- Shooting Programs Cafe, Dawn, Food, Text, Sunset, Children, Close-up, Fireworks, Landscape, Anti shake, Back light, Beach/snow, Beauty shot, Portrait mode, Self-portrait
- Special Effects Red, Blue, Calm, Cool, Soft, Green, Noise, Retro, Sepia, Vivid, Forest, Classic, Negative, Black & White
- Image Stabilizer Optical
- Max Shutter Speed 1/1500 sec
- Image stabilizer feature Optical stabilization helps prevent blurry pictures, especially for handheld cameras at slow shutter speeds or when using high optical zoom.
- Min Shutter Speed 16 sec
- Exposure Metering Spot, Multi-segment, Center-weighted
- Exposure Modes Program, Automatic
- Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
- Face Detection Yes
- White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic
- White Balance Presets Cloudy, Daylight, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (daylight), Fluorescent light (cool white)
- Digital Video Format H.264
- Still Image Format JPEG
- Remote Control Optional
- TV Tuner None
- Video Capture H.264 - 1280 x 720, H.264 - 1280 x 720, H.264 - 640 x 480, H.264 - 640 x 480, H.264 - 320 x 240, H.264 - 320 x 240, H.264 - 320 x 240
Memory / Storage
- Supported Flash Memory SD Memory Card
- Integrated Memory 30 MB
- Floppy Drive None
Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Built-in flash
- Flash Modes Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Slow synchro, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction
- Red Eye Reduction Yes
- Effective Flash Range 1 ft - 15.4 ft
- Features Flash +/- compensation
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 4.2 mm - 42 mm - F/3.3-5.8
- Focal Length 4.2 mm - 42 mm
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 24 - 240 mm
- Focus Adjustment Manual, Automatic
- Min Focus Range 19.7 in
- Macro Focus Range 5cm
- Lens Aperture F/3.3-5.8
- Optical Zoom 10 x
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens Manufacturer Schneider-Kreuznach
- Features Built-in lens shield
Additional Features
- Self Timer Yes
- Self Timer Delay 2 sec, 10 sec
- Additional Features DPOF support, Direct print, Face retouch, Face detection, Audio recording, Date/time stamp, Built-in speaker, Contrast control, Cropping an image, Resizing an image, Sharpness control, Exif Print support, PictBridge support, Saturation control, In-camera red-eye fix, USB 2.0 compatibility, Digital image rotation, 720p HD movie recording, Dual image stabilization, Blink Detection technology, Intelligent Scene Selector, Smile Detection technology, Auto Contrast Balance (ACB), Digital image stabilization
Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type None
Display
- Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 3 in - Color
- Display Form Factor Built-in
- Display Format 460,000 pixels
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Stereo
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB, 1 x Composite video/audio output, 1 x HDMI output
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x SD Memory Card
Software
- Software Adobe Reader, Samsung Master, Apple QuickTime, Drivers & Utilities
System Requirements for PC Connection
- Peripheral Devices USB port, CD-ROM drive
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Carrying strap
- Cables Included USB cable, A/V cable
Battery
- Supported Battery Samsung SLB-10A
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery - 1050 mAh ( Included )
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- Samsung
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Samsung products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.samsungusa.com/
- Address:
105 Challenger Road, Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 - Phone: 1-800-726-7864
- Fax: 1-973-601-6001









