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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH2

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH2 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 FH2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Released January 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS16
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH2 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic FH2, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the FH2 (14MP) is pretty similar and both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was announced 2 years later than the FH2 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SZ-15 scores vs the FH2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Panasonic FH2

 SZ-15 FH2 
ReleasedJune 2013January 2011More recent by 30 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Olympus SZ-15

 FH2 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic FH2

 SZ-15 FH2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-15 provides outer dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH2 has measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic FH2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the FH2.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH2 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and FH2 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to imagine the difference between sensor measurements only by reading a spec sheet. The graphic here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and FH2.

Clearly, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Olympus SZ-15 to deliver more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The newer SZ-15 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH2 as a Portrait photography camera
44
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
33
MP count decent (14MP)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography features
Panasonic FH2 Street photography features
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (250 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
67
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
lighter than average (121 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography information
Panasonic FH2 Sports photography information
53
incredible zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
43
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
great battery pack (270 per charge)
slow fps (4.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography info
Panasonic FH2 Travel photography info
68
lighter than average (250 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (23mm)
great reach (483mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
72
great battery pack (270 per charge)
lighter than average (121g)
comes with focus via touch
MP count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography information
Panasonic FH2 Landscape photography information
49
has manual focus
rather wide (23mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
41
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
great battery pack (270 shots)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FH2 Vlogging advice
34
rather wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (250g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic support
32
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than average (121g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic FH2
 Olympus SZ-15Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FS16
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-06-21 2011-01-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
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)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lbs) 121 gr (0.27 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
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 - 270 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 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 One One
Cost at release $200 $149