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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-15 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • New Model is Olympus E-P2
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-P1 vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-15, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both built by Olympus. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and SZ-15 (16MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and SZ-15 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor size.

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The E-P1 was launched 4 years earlier than the SZ-15 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-P1 matches up versus the SZ-15 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus SZ-15

 E-P1 SZ-15 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus E-P1

 SZ-15 E-P1 
IntroducedJune 2013July 2009Fresher by 47 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus SZ-15

 E-P1 SZ-15 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P1 provides outside dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and 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).

Contrast the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-15 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-P1 against the SZ-15.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and SZ-15 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing merely by seeing technical specs. The graphic below may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P1 and SZ-15.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-P1 due to its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Olympus SZ-15 will produce more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics much more aggressively. The older E-P1 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography advice
Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography advice
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
exports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
44
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography details
Olympus SZ-15 Street photography details
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (250 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-15 as a Sports photography camera
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
low battery power (300 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
53
long zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-15 as a Travel photography camera
43
no Time Lapse function
low battery power (300 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than others in class (250 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (23mm)
very long zoom (483mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P1
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
60
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
low battery power (300 shots)
no Time Lapse function
49
manual focus
decently wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-15 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic port
34
decently wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (250 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Olympus SZ-15
 Olympus PEN E-P1Olympus SZ-15
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus SZ-15
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-07-29 2013-06-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 23-483mm (21.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355g (0.78 lb) 250g (0.55 lb)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $182 $200