Canon A1100 IS vs Olympus SZ-15

The following is a extended analysis of the Canon A1100 IS and Olympus SZ-15, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Canon and Olympus. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the A1100 IS (12MP) and SZ-15 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The A1100 IS was announced 5 years earlier than the SZ-15 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short highlight of how the A1100 IS grades versus the SZ-15 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot A1100 IS & Olympus SZ-15. The whole galleries are available at Canon A1100 IS Gallery & Olympus SZ-15 Gallery.

In case you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon A1100 IS enjoys exterior measurements of 95mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-15 has proportions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon A1100 IS and Olympus SZ-15 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the A1100 IS versus the SZ-15.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the A1100 IS and SZ-15 is 93 and 88 respectively.

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions simply by checking specifications. The pic below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A1100 IS and SZ-15.

To sum up, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Olympus SZ-15 to give you greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged A1100 IS is going to be behind in sensor innovation.