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Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
86
Imaging
36
Features
58
Overall
44
Canon PowerShot G15 front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-15 Key Specs

Canon G15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 352g - 107 x 76 x 40mm
  • Released September 2012
  • Old Model is Canon G12
  • Renewed by Canon G16
Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched June 2013
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Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

In this write-up, we will be matching up the Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-15, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Olympus. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the G15 (12MP) and SZ-15 (16MP) and the G15 (1/1.7") and SZ-15 (1/2.3") possess different sensor dimensions.

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The G15 was announced 9 months earlier than the SZ-15 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the G15 matches up versus the SZ-15 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon G15 over the Olympus SZ-15

 G15 SZ-15 
Screen resolution922k460kCrisper screen (+462k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Canon G15

 SZ-15 G15 
LaunchedJune 2013September 2012Fresher by 9 months

Common features in the Canon G15 and Olympus SZ-15

 G15 SZ-15 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Canon G15 offers outside dimensions of 107mm x 76mm x 40mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 1.6") along with a weight of 352 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-15 has sizing of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check out the Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-15 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the G15 against the SZ-15.

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the G15 and SZ-15 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to picture the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading through specifications. The photograph below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the G15 and SZ-15.

To sum up, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The G15 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus SZ-15 will give more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older G15 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G15 Portrait photography information
Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography information
48
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
43
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon G15 Street photography highlights
Olympus SZ-15 Street photography highlights
58
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition in class (352 grams)
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon G15 Sports photography information
Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography information
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
great battery power (350 CIPA)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
52
great zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon G15
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
61
great battery power (350 shots)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (352 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (23mm)
long zoom (483mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G15 Landscape photography information
Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography information
54
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
great battery power (350 per charge)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse function
49
has manual focus
fairly wide (23mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G15 Vlogging info
Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging info
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (352g)
34
fairly wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
missing external microphone port
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Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G15 and Olympus SZ-15
 Canon PowerShot G15Olympus SZ-15
General Information
Brand Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot G15 Olympus SZ-15
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-09-17 2013-06-21
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 5 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 23-483mm (21.0x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.8 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 922 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT PureColor II G LCD LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/2000 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 352g (0.78 lb) 250g (0.55 lb)
Dimensions 107 x 76 x 40mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 1.6") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 46 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 19.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 165 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-10L SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $499 $200