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Samsung HZ15W Digital Camera

(3 out of 5)

A compact ultra zoom with a 24 - 240 mm lens and a nice feature set, but the image quality needs work.

Review by Jeff Keller | Aug 13, 2009 | + Share

The Samsung HZ15W is a competent but not spectacular compact ultra zoom camera. There's a lot to like about the HZ15: it's relatively small, it has a great 24 - 240 mm stabilized zoom lens, a large LCD, tons of automatic features, manual controls, and an HD movie mode. Downsides include heavy noise reduction in photos, poor low light performance, limited aperture choices in manual mode, and a few design-related annoyances. The HZ15W is definitely one of the best Samsung cameras I've tested, it's just not one of the best in its class.

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Pros	Cons
Good color and exposure -- no redeye or purple fringing Compact, stylish metal body packs a 10X zoom Useful 24 - 240 mm zoom range Optical image stabilization Large and sharp 3-inch LCD display Good set of manual controls Lots of point-and-shoot features -- well-implemented face/smile/blink detection Strong flash Great HD movie mode with stereo sound, zoom/IS usage, long recording time Nice playback mode Optional wireless remote, if you can find it HDMI port	Heavy noise reduction smudges fine and low contrast details and gives images a soft, fuzzy look, even at low ISOs Poor low light focusing LCD difficult to see in those situations, as well Only two apertures to choose from in manual mode -- manual focus feature could be better LCD blacks out during high speed continuous shooting Thumb rests on command lever, making it easy to accidentally change settings Flash is relatively slow to charge No optical viewfinder Battery charged internally via proprietary cable Flimsy door over memory/battery compartment -- cannot access memory card when camera is on a tripod Not a lot of built-in memory -- makes the Recycle Bin feature a lot less useful No Mac software included -- full manual only on CD-ROM

Pros

Cons

Good color and exposure -- no redeye or purple fringing
Compact, stylish metal body packs a 10X zoom
Useful 24 - 240 mm zoom range
Optical image stabilization
Large and sharp 3-inch LCD display
Good set of manual controls
Lots of point-and-shoot features -- well-implemented face/smile/blink detection
Strong flash
Great HD movie mode with stereo sound, zoom/IS usage, long recording time
Nice playback mode
Optional wireless remote, if you can find it
HDMI port

Heavy noise reduction smudges fine and low contrast details and gives images a soft, fuzzy look, even at low ISOs
Poor low light focusing
LCD difficult to see in those situations, as well
Only two apertures to choose from in manual mode
-- manual focus feature could be better
LCD blacks out during high speed continuous shooting
Thumb rests on command lever, making it easy to accidentally change settings
Flash is relatively slow to charge
No optical viewfinder
Battery charged internally via proprietary cable
Flimsy door over memory/battery compartment -- cannot access memory card when camera is on a tripod
Not a lot of built-in memory -- makes the Recycle Bin feature a lot less useful
No Mac software included -- full manual only on CD-ROM