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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-15 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2012
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-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SZ-15, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both offered by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the SZ-15 (16MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and SZ-15 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL5 was revealed 9 months prior to the SZ-15 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-PL5 matches up against the SZ-15 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus SZ-15

 E-PL5 SZ-15 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus E-PL5

 SZ-15 E-PL5 
ReleasedJune 2013September 2012More recent by 9 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SZ-15

 E-PL5 SZ-15 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL5 has got physical measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-15 has sizing of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SZ-15 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL5 versus the SZ-15.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and SZ-15 is 88 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to imagine the difference between sensor measurements only by going over a spec sheet. The visual underneath might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and SZ-15.

As you can see, both of those cameras have got the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 has got the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult. The older E-PL5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-15 as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
44
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography information
Olympus SZ-15 Street photography information
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (250 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography factors
Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
53
incredible zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-15 as a Travel photography camera
75
has focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse recording
68
lighter than others in class (250 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (23mm)
great reach (483mm)
missing Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography advice
Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography advice
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
49
focusing manually
really wide (23mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-15
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of mic support
34
really wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (250g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
missing microphone port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SZ-15
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus SZ-15
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus SZ-15
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-09-17 2013-06-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 23-483mm (21.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 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 sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 gr (0.72 pounds) 250 gr (0.55 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $400 $200