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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic G9

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 front
Portability
62
Imaging
61
Features
90
Overall
72

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic G9 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
  • Announced June 2013
Panasonic G9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 658g - 137 x 97 x 92mm
  • Launched November 2017
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic G9 Overview

Here is a complete overview of the Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic G9, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the G9 (20MP) is relatively close but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and G9 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-15 was unveiled 5 years before the G9 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the SZ-15 matches up vs the G9 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Panasonic G9

 SZ-15 G9 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G9 over the Olympus SZ-15

 G9 SZ-15 
LaunchedNovember 2017June 2013Fresher by 53 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic G9

 SZ-15 G9 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic G9 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-15 features physical measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Panasonic G9 has sizing of 137mm x 97mm x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") along with a weight of 658 grams (1.45 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic G9 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ-15 and the G9.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic G9 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and G9 is 88 and 62 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic G9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic G9 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing merely by viewing specs. The visual below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-15 and G9.

All in all, the 2 cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ-15 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Panasonic G9 will result in more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The older SZ-15 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic G9 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic G9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic G9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic G9 as a Portrait photography camera
44
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
76
manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-15
Street photography with Panasonic G9
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
75
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus by touch
weather proof
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic G9 as a Sports photography camera
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
offers tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (20.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
bad battery life (400 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography advice
Panasonic G9 Travel photography advice
68
lighter than competition in class (250g)
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (23mm)
very long reach (483mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
70
weather proof
supports bluetooth
features focus by touch
decent megapixels (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
bad battery life (400 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
Landscape photography with Panasonic G9
49
has manual focus
quite wide (23mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
76
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
bad battery life (400 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging factors
Panasonic G9 Vlogging factors
34
quite wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
77
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with microphone port
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic G9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic G9
 Olympus SZ-15Panasonic Lumix DC-G9
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Panasonic Lumix DC-G9
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2013-06-21 2017-11-08
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
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 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 225
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,680 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.83x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 20.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance 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) 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lb) 658 gr (1.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 137 x 97 x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6")
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 - 400 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A DMW-BLF19
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported)
Storage slots One Dual
Launch price $200 $1,500