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Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
86
Imaging
37
Features
58
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot G15 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
39
Overall
38

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Canon G15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Previous Model is Canon G12
  • New Model is Canon G16
Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-30MR, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Olympus. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the G15 (12MP) and SZ-30MR (16MP) and the G15 (1/1.7") and SZ-30MR (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.

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The G15 was revealed 19 months after the SZ-30MR which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the G15 scores vs the SZ-30MR when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon G15 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 G15 SZ-30MR 
IntroducedSeptember 2012March 2011More modern by 19 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen resolution922k460kCrisper screen (+462k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Canon G15

 SZ-30MR G15 

Common features in the Canon G15 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 G15 SZ-30MR 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon G15 offers outside dimensions of 107mm x 76mm x 40mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 352 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-30MR has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Contrast the Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-30MR in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the G15 against the SZ-30MR.

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the G15 and SZ-30MR is 86 and 89 respectively.

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to see the contrast in sensor sizes merely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the G15 and SZ-30MR.

Clearly, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The G15 using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus SZ-30MR will show greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The younger G15 will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G15 Portrait photography features
Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography features
48
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon G15 Street photography information
Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography information
59
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than others in class (352 grams)
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon G15 Sports photography details
Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography details
39
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
great battery life (350 shots)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon G15 Travel photography details
Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography details
61
great battery life (350 shots)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than others in class (352g)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
65
lighter than competitors (226g)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G15 Landscape photography features
Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography features
55
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (350 per charge)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
lack of Timelapse function
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G15 Vlogging advice
Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging advice
33
really wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (352g)
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
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Canon G15 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G15 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Canon PowerShot G15Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot G15 Olympus SZ-30MR
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-09-17 2011-03-02
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 5 TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture f/1.8-2.8 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 922 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT PureColor II G LCD TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1700s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/2000s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 352 grams (0.78 lb) 226 grams (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 107 x 76 x 40mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 1.6") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" 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 pictures 220 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-10L LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch price $499 $279