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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH3

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH3 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
  • Introduced June 2013
Panasonic FH3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 165g - 98 x 55 x 24mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS11
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH3 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic FH3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the FH3 (14MP) is pretty similar and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was manufactured 3 years after the FH3 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SZ-15 matches up versus the FH3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Panasonic FH3

 SZ-15 FH3 
RevealedJune 2013January 2010Newer by 43 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Olympus SZ-15

 FH3 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic FH3

 SZ-15 FH3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH3 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-15 has got outside dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH3 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic FH3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-15 against the FH3.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and FH3 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to picture the difference between sensor dimensions only by going over specifications. The image underneath will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and FH3.

To sum up, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Olympus SZ-15 to deliver greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more recent SZ-15 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FH3 Portrait photography features
44
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography advice
Panasonic FH3 Street photography advice
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (250 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FH3 Sports photography highlights
53
great zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
35
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FH3 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition (250 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (23mm)
very long zoom (483mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FH3 as a Landscape photography camera
49
focusing manually
pretty wide (23mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
37
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging details
Panasonic FH3 Vlogging details
34
pretty wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (250 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic support
29
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic jack
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FH3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic FH3
 Olympus SZ-15Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FS11
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-06-21 2010-01-06
Body design 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 area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.8-6.9
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lbs) 165 gr (0.36 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" 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 model SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $200 $160