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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
62
Overall
46
Leica V-Lux 4 front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Olympus SZ-15 Key Specs

Leica V-Lux 4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 588g - 125 x 87 x 110mm
  • Released September 2012
  • Replaced the Leica V-Lux 3
  • Updated by Leica V-Lux 5
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
  • Introduced June 2013
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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Leica V-Lux 4 and Olympus SZ-15, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Leica and Olympus. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the V-Lux 4 (12MP) and SZ-15 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The V-Lux 4 was released 9 months prior to the SZ-15 and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Leica V-Lux 4 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a simple summation of how the V-Lux 4 scores against the SZ-15 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Leica V-Lux 4 over the Olympus SZ-15

 V-Lux 4 SZ-15 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Leica V-Lux 4

 SZ-15 V-Lux 4 
IntroducedJune 2013September 2012Fresher by 9 months

Common features in the Leica V-Lux 4 and Olympus SZ-15

 V-Lux 4 SZ-15 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Leica V-Lux 4 enjoys outside measurements of 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") with a weight of 588 grams (1.30 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-15 has dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

See the Leica V-Lux 4 and Olympus SZ-15 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the V-Lux 4 against the SZ-15.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the V-Lux 4 and SZ-15 is 65 and 88 respectively.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing purely by going through specs. The photograph underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the V-Lux 4 and SZ-15.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Olympus SZ-15 to show greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The older V-Lux 4 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica V-Lux 4 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Portrait photography advice
Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography advice
45
manual focus
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
44
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Street photography details
Olympus SZ-15 Street photography details
57
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (588g)
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (250g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Leica V-Lux 4 Sports photography information
Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography information
46
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery power (540 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
53
amazing zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica V-Lux 4
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
55
good battery power (540 CIPA)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (588 grams)
megapixel count low (12MP)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than competitors in class (250g)
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (23mm)
very long reach (483mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica V-Lux 4
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
48
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
good battery power (540 shots)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no Timelapse function
49
you can focus manually
fairly wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Leica V-Lux 4
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-15
63
rather wide (25mm)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone port
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competition in class (588 grams)
34
fairly wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (250g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of mic socket
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Leica V-Lux 4 vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica V-Lux 4 and Olympus SZ-15
 Leica V-Lux 4Olympus SZ-15
General Information
Make Leica Olympus
Model type Leica V-Lux 4 Olympus SZ-15
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-09-17 2013-06-21
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 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 3200 3200
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 23-483mm (21.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,312k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.50 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 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 data format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 588g (1.30 pounds) 250g (0.55 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 87 x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 540 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $899 $200