Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic ZS15

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus SZ-10 and Panasonic ZS15, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras boast the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ-10 was revealed 16 months prior to the ZS15 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the SZ-10 scores against the ZS15 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus SZ-10 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15. The full galleries are provided at Olympus SZ-10 Gallery & Panasonic ZS15 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-10 features exterior measurements of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS15 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-10 and Panasonic ZS15 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-10 compared to the ZS15.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-10 and ZS15 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Often, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph here should give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-10 and ZS15.

As you can see, each of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Olympus SZ-10 to give you greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos way more aggressively. The older SZ-10 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.