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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FX48

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FX48 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
Panasonic FX48
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 53 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FX40
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FX48 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FX48, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and FX48 (12MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was manufactured 4 years later than the FX48 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SZ-15 matches up vs the FX48 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Panasonic FX48

 SZ-15 FX48 
AnnouncedJune 2013January 2009More recent by 54 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX48 over the Olympus SZ-15

 FX48 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic FX48

 SZ-15 FX48 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FX48 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-15 features external 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 FX48 has dimensions of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FX48 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the FX48.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FX48 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and FX48 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FX48 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FX48 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading a spec sheet. The visual below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and FX48.

Clearly, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Olympus SZ-15 to offer greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs more aggressively. The younger SZ-15 is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FX48 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FX48 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FX48 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-15
Portrait photography with Panasonic FX48
44
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
includes face detection focus
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
27
provides face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography advice
Panasonic FX48 Street photography advice
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FX48 Sports photography factors
53
amazing zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FX48 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition in class (250g)
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (23mm)
long zoom (483mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
58
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
missing Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography information
Panasonic FX48 Landscape photography information
49
manual focus
decently wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
33
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5")
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging details
Panasonic FX48 Vlogging details
34
decently wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
missing external mic support
31
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing microphone port
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic FX48 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic FX48
 Olympus SZ-15Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FX40
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-06-21 2009-01-27
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/3000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 gr (0.55 lb) 150 gr (0.33 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 95 x 53 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9")
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 ID SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $200 $325