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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-870 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-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-860
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-870, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact and both are manufactured by Olympus. The image resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the TG-870 (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras posses the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was launched 3 years before the TG-870 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief summation of how the SZ-15 grades versus the TG-870 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus TG-870

 SZ-15 TG-870 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus SZ-15

 TG-870 SZ-15 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016June 2013Newer by 30 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Olympus TG-870

 SZ-15 TG-870 
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-15 has got outer measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Olympus TG-870 has measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-870 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-15 against the TG-870.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and TG-870 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions merely by checking specs. The image underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-15 and TG-870.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same exact resolution therefore you can expect similar quality of pictures though you may want to take the age of the products into consideration. The more aged SZ-15 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography highlights
44
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
comes with face detect focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
36
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography advice
Olympus TG-870 Street photography advice
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (250 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
65
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than competition (221g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography information
Olympus TG-870 Sports photography information
53
great zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
51
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
better than average battery (300 per charge)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than others (250g)
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
69
better than average battery (300 shots)
weather sealing
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (21mm)
heavier than competition (221g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-870
49
has manual focus
relatively wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
50
decently wide (21mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
weather sealing
better than average battery (300 shots)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Vlogging camera
34
relatively wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (250g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
missing mic port
32
decently wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of mic support
heavier than competition (221 grams)
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Olympus TG-870
 Olympus SZ-15Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Introduced 2013-06-21 2016-01-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Highest boosted ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lb) 221 gr (0.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" 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 - 300 photos
Battery style - 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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $200 $280