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Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
68
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44
Nikon Coolpix B500 front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-15 Key Specs

Nikon B500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-900mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 541g - 114 x 78 x 95mm
  • Launched February 2016
Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Revealed June 2013
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Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-15, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Nikon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the B500 (16MP) and the SZ-15 (16MP) is very similar and both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The B500 was introduced 2 years after the SZ-15 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Nikon B500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the B500 grades against the SZ-15 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon B500 over the Olympus SZ-15

 B500 SZ-15 
RevealedFebruary 2016June 2013Newer by 33 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Nikon B500

 SZ-15 B500 
Manual focus Very precise focus

Common features in the Nikon B500 and Olympus SZ-15

 B500 SZ-15 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon B500 comes with exterior dimensions of 114mm x 78mm x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 541 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-15 has measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Look at the Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-15 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the B500 against the SZ-15.

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the B500 and SZ-15 is 68 and 88 respectively.

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading a spec sheet. The image below should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the B500 and SZ-15.

Clearly, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the identical MP therefore you should expect similar quality of images but you should factor the release date of the products into consideration. The more modern B500 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon B500
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-15
37
good megapixels (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
44
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon B500 Street photography information
Olympus SZ-15 Street photography information
52
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
heavier than competition in class (541g)
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (250 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon B500 Sports photography info
Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography info
51
great zoom range (23-900mm 39.1 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery power (600 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon B500
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
59
great battery power (600 per charge)
connects via bluetooth
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (23mm)
long reach (900mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (541 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than competitors in class (250 grams)
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (23mm)
great zoom (483mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-15 as a Landscape photography camera
45
relatively wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
great battery power (600 shots)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
49
manual focus
quite wide (23mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-15 as a Vlogging camera
27
relatively wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic port
heavier than competition in class (541g)
34
quite wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (250g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
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Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon B500 and Olympus SZ-15
 Nikon Coolpix B500Olympus SZ-15
General Information
Company Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon Coolpix B500 Olympus SZ-15
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-02-23 2013-06-21
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-900mm (39.1x) 23-483mm (21.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.4 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 3.50 m
Flash modes - 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 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 541 gr (1.19 pounds) 250 gr (0.55 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 78 x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 600 shots -
Style of battery AA -
Battery model 4 x AA SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $300 $200