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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Key Specs

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
Olympus TG-850 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 218g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2014
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Overview

The following is a extended review of the Olympus SZ-15 versus Olympus TG-850 iHS, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Waterproof and they are both created by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the TG-850 iHS (16MP) is fairly well matched and they enjoy the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ-15 was brought out 7 months earlier than the TG-850 iHS and they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short introduction of how the SZ-15 grades against the TG-850 iHS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 SZ-15 TG-850 iHS 
Focus manually More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Olympus SZ-15

 TG-850 iHS SZ-15 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014June 2013Newer by 7 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Olympus TG-850 iHS

 SZ-15 TG-850 iHS 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-15 has outside dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Olympus TG-850 iHS has dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-15 versus Olympus TG-850 iHS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-15 and the TG-850 iHS.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and TG-850 iHS is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to see the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reading through specifications. The picture underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-15 and TG-850 iHS.

To sum up, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same megapixels and you can expect similar quality of images however you really should factor the launch date of the products into consideration. The more aged SZ-15 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
44
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
35
good resolution (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography advice
Olympus TG-850 iHS Street photography advice
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (250 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
69
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography advice
Olympus TG-850 iHS Sports photography advice
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
better than average battery power (330 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography information
Olympus TG-850 iHS Travel photography information
68
lighter than average (250 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
72
better than average battery power (330 CIPA)
weather proofing
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (21mm)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus TG-850 iHS Landscape photography highlights
49
focusing manually
reasonably wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
50
relatively wide (21mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
weather proofing
better than average battery power (330 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging advice
Olympus TG-850 iHS Vlogging advice
34
reasonably wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (250 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
33
relatively wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Olympus TG-850 iHS
 Olympus SZ-15Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2013-06-21 2014-01-29
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4616 x 3464
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 1/2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Yes
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250g (0.55 lb) 218g (0.48 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 330 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $200 $250