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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Key Specs

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
  • Revealed June 2013
Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Earlier Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Later Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SP-820UZ, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and they are both produced by Olympus. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the SP-820UZ (14MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras offer the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was launched 11 months later than the SP-820UZ and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SZ-15 grades against the SP-820UZ in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 SZ-15 SP-820UZ 
IntroducedJune 2013August 2012More recent by 11 months
Manual focus Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Olympus SZ-15

 SP-820UZ SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Olympus SP-820UZ

 SZ-15 SP-820UZ 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-15 has physical dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Olympus SP-820UZ has proportions of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SP-820UZ in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-15 and the SP-820UZ.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SP-820UZ size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and SP-820UZ is 88 and 69 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SP-820UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by checking out technical specs. The visual below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-15 and SP-820UZ.

As you can tell, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size but different resolution. You can anticipate the Olympus SZ-15 to provide greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The younger SZ-15 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SP-820UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography info
Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography info
44
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
34
MP count decent (14MP)
features face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography info
Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography info
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (250g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
37
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than competitors in class (485 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography information
Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography information
53
great zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
33
excellent zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography highlights
Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography highlights
68
lighter than competition (250g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (23mm)
very long zoom (483mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
55
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (22mm)
great reach (896mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (485g)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
Landscape photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
49
has manual focus
decently wide (23mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
35
reasonably wide (22mm)
screen size is decent (3")
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
lack of manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging info
Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging info
34
decently wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (250 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic socket
25
reasonably wide (22mm)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (485 grams)
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Olympus SP-820UZ
 Olympus SZ-15Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-06-21 2012-08-21
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) 22-896mm (40.7x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.4-5.7
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 15.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lbs) 485 gr (1.07 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7")
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 ID SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at release $200 $299