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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic F5

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic F5 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
  • Released June 2013
Panasonic F5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic F5 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus SZ-15 versus Panasonic F5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the F5 (14MP) is very well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was introduced 6 months later than the F5 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a short highlight of how the SZ-15 scores against the F5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Panasonic F5

 SZ-15 F5 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic F5 over the Olympus SZ-15

 F5 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic F5

 SZ-15 F5 
LaunchedJune 2013January 2013Similar age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic F5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you should take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-15 has external measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Panasonic F5 has specifications of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-15 versus Panasonic F5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-15 vs the F5.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic F5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and F5 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic F5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic F5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to visualise the gap between sensor measurements only by looking at technical specs. The graphic here may provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and F5.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Olympus SZ-15 to give greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic F5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic F5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic F5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography features
Panasonic F5 Portrait photography features
44
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
29
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-15
Street photography with Panasonic F5
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (250g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
56
lighter than competitors (121g)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic F5 as a Sports photography camera
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
Travel photography with Panasonic F5
68
lighter than competitors in class (250g)
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (23mm)
very long zoom (483mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic F5 Landscape photography advice
49
you can focus manually
fairly wide (23mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
33
relatively wide (28mm)
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging info
Panasonic F5 Vlogging info
34
fairly wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (250g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone support
28
relatively wide (28mm)
lighter than competitors (121g)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic support
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic F5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic F5
 Olympus SZ-15Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-06-21 2013-01-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.2-6.5
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 5.70 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250g (0.55 lbs) 121g (0.27 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 97 x 58 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 250 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $200 $100