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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus XZ-1

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Olympus XZ-1 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus XZ-1 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 XZ-1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 275g - 111 x 65 x 42mm
  • Introduced January 2011
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus XZ-1 Overview

Below is a extended review of the Olympus SZ-15 versus Olympus XZ-1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and XZ-1 (10MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and XZ-1 (1/1.63") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-15 was released 2 years later than the XZ-1 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the SZ-15 matches up vs the XZ-1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus XZ-1

 SZ-15 XZ-1 
IntroducedJune 2013January 2011More recent by 30 months

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Olympus SZ-15

 XZ-1 SZ-15 
Display resolution614k460kSharper display (+154k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Olympus XZ-1

 SZ-15 XZ-1 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus XZ-1 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-15 enjoys physical 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 XZ-1 has specifications of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-15 versus Olympus XZ-1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-15 against the XZ-1.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus XZ-1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and XZ-1 is 88 and 88 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus XZ-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus XZ-1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and XZ-1.

As you can see, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SZ-15 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Olympus SZ-15 will render extra detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images more aggressively. The more modern SZ-15 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus XZ-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography factors
Olympus XZ-1 Portrait photography factors
44
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers face detect focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
45
focusing manually
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography features
Olympus XZ-1 Street photography features
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (250 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
heavier than average in class (275g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography information
Olympus XZ-1 Sports photography information
53
great zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
38
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery life (320 CIPA)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography advice
Olympus XZ-1 Travel photography advice
68
lighter than average in class (250g)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
62
better than average battery life (320 per charge)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than average in class (275g)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus XZ-1 Landscape photography highlights
49
has manual focus
really wide (23mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
54
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (320 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus XZ-1 as a Vlogging camera
34
really wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (250 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone jack
31
relatively wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focusing
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack
heavier than average in class (275g)
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus XZ-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Olympus XZ-1
 Olympus SZ-15Olympus XZ-1
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Olympus XZ-1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-06-21 2011-01-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic V
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.63"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3664 x 2752
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 614 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology LCD OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 grams (0.55 pounds) 275 grams (0.61 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 34
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 18.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 117
Other
Battery life - 320 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $200 $567