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Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS15

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS15 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released February 2011
Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS15 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS15, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the FS15 (12MP) is relatively comparable and they come with the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-10 was introduced 2 years later than the FS15 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the SZ-10 scores against the FS15 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Panasonic FS15

 SZ-10 FS15 
IntroducedFebruary 2011January 2009Fresher by 26 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Olympus SZ-10

 FS15 SZ-10 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Panasonic FS15

 SZ-10 FS15 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS15 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-10 enjoys physical measurements of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Panasonic FS15 has dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS15 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-10 and the FS15.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS15 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-10 and FS15 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS15 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing purely by going through specs. The photograph here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-10 and FS15.

All in all, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can count on the Olympus SZ-10 to produce greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots much more aggressively. The younger SZ-10 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography features
33
MP count decent (14MP)
comes with face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-10
Street photography with Panasonic FS15
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (215 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FS15 Sports photography highlights
40
long zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (215 grams)
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
long reach (504mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FS15 Landscape photography advice
40
really wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Vlogging camera
31
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (215g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have mic port
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Panasonic FS15
 Olympus SZ-10Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-10 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2011-02-08 2009-01-16
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-504mm (18.0x) 29-145mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-4.4 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.10 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 215g (0.47 lbs) 136g (0.30 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
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 220 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $300 $180