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Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-15 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Introduced February 2020
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M1 II
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
  • Released June 2013
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-M1 III versus Olympus SZ-15, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are sold by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and SZ-15 (16MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and SZ-15 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 III was announced 6 years after the SZ-15 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-M1 III grades vs the SZ-15 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Olympus SZ-15

 E-M1 III SZ-15 
ReleasedFebruary 2020June 2013More modern by 81 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus E-M1 III

 SZ-15 E-M1 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Olympus SZ-15

 E-M1 III SZ-15 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 III comes with exterior measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-15 has dimensions 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 Olympus E-M1 III versus Olympus SZ-15 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-M1 III and the SZ-15.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 III and SZ-15 is 67 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to envision the gap between sensor sizes only by reading technical specs. The picture underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 III and SZ-15.

As you can tell, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 III using its bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus E-M1 III will offer more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The newer E-M1 III will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-15 as a Portrait photography camera
77
focusing manually
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
44
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-15 as a Street photography camera
78
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides focus via touch
weather sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (250g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Sports photography with Olympus SZ-15
81
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (60.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
53
amazing zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
79
weather sealing
has bluetooth
provides focus via touch
decent megapixels (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than competition (250g)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
81
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
doesnt have low pass filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
has double storage slots
49
has manual focus
quite wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1 III
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-15
79
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
does have mic port
34
quite wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (250 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic jack
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Olympus SZ-15
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIIOlympus SZ-15
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Olympus SZ-15
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2020-02-11 2013-06-21
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic IX -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 121 -
Cross type focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 23-483mm (21.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 60.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash settings Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 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 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 580 gr (1.28 lbs) 250 gr (0.55 lbs)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 420 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLH-1 SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Dual One
Cost at release $1,800 $200