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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus SZ-15 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Launched October 2019
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Renewed by OM System OM-5
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
  • Introduced June 2013
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus SZ-15, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are designed by Olympus. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and SZ-15 (16MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and SZ-15 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 III was announced 6 years later than the SZ-15 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-M5 III matches up versus the SZ-15 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Olympus SZ-15

 E-M5 III SZ-15 
IntroducedOctober 2019June 2013More recent by 77 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k460kClearer display (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 SZ-15 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus SZ-15

 E-M5 III SZ-15 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 III comes with external measurements of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") having a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-15 has specifications of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus SZ-15 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the E-M5 III versus the SZ-15.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and SZ-15 is 80 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to envision the gap in sensor measurements merely by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 III and SZ-15.

As you can see, both cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 III using its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-M5 III will show more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The newer E-M5 III will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography features
Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography features
77
manual focus
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
44
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography advice
Olympus SZ-15 Street photography advice
83
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts focus via touch
environment sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Sports photography with Olympus SZ-15
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
high frames per second (30.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery (310 per charge)
53
incredible zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography features
Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography features
77
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus via touch
good MP (20MP)
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery (310 CIPA)
68
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (23mm)
great reach (483mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
77
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
not so great battery (310 shots)
49
you can focus manually
relatively wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging information
Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging information
84
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes mic support
34
relatively wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus SZ-15
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIOlympus SZ-15
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Olympus SZ-15
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2019-10-17 2013-06-21
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII -
Sensor type MOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 121 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 23-483mm (21.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 30.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, 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)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 414 gr (0.91 pounds) 250 gr (0.55 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 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 310 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail price $1,199 $200