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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-860

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
42
Overall
40

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-860 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-860
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Successor is Olympus TG-870
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-860 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-860, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof and they are both sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the TG-860 (16MP) is pretty close and they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was brought out 19 months earlier than the TG-860 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief overview of how the SZ-15 scores against the TG-860 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus TG-860

 SZ-15 TG-860 
Manual focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Olympus SZ-15

 TG-860 SZ-15 
RevealedFebruary 2015June 2013Newer by 19 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Olympus TG-860

 SZ-15 TG-860 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-860 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-15 enjoys outer dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Olympus TG-860 has specifications of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-860 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the TG-860.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-860 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and TG-860 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-860 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-860 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by researching a spec sheet. The image underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and TG-860.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the exact same resolution so you should expect comparable quality of images however you will need to take the release date of the cameras into account. The more aged SZ-15 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-860 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-15
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-860
44
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
has face detect focus
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
35
MP count good (16MP)
offers face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography information
Olympus TG-860 Street photography information
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (250g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus TG-860 as a Sports photography camera
53
amazing zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
has tracking focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
48
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography advice
Olympus TG-860 Travel photography advice
68
lighter than others in class (250 grams)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
weather sealing
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (21mm)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography highlights
49
you can focus manually
fairly wide (23mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
47
decently wide (21mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging info
Olympus TG-860 Vlogging info
34
fairly wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (250 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of microphone socket
33
decently wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-860 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Olympus TG-860
 Olympus SZ-15Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2013-06-21 2015-02-06
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VII
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 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
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 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Yes
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lbs) 224 grams (0.49 lbs)
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 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 - 300 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $200 $279