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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GF3 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
  • Revealed June 2013
Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF2
  • Updated by Panasonic GF5
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-15 versus Panasonic GF3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and GF3 (12MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and GF3 (Four Thirds) come with totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-15 was manufactured 23 months later than the GF3 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the SZ-15 scores vs the GF3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Panasonic GF3

 SZ-15 GF3 
RevealedJune 2013August 2011Fresher by 23 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Olympus SZ-15

 GF3 SZ-15 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic GF3

 SZ-15 GF3 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-15 has got exterior measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Panasonic GF3 has dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-15 versus Panasonic GF3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-15 and the GF3.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and GF3 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizing just by going over specs. The visual underneath may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-15 and GF3.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ-15 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Olympus SZ-15 will offer greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The younger SZ-15 will have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography highlights
44
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with face detection focusing
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
55
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography factors
Panasonic GF3 Street photography factors
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (250 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
supports touch to focus
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography advice
Panasonic GF3 Sports photography advice
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic GF3 Travel photography highlights
68
lighter than competitors in class (250 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
58
supports touch to focus
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (300 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF3
49
manual focus
fairly wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Timelapse recording
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (300 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Vlogging camera
34
fairly wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (250 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
32
touch screen
provides face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing mic port
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic GF3
 Olympus SZ-15Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-06-21 2011-08-11
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing 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 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 160
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.50 m 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250g (0.55 lb) 264g (0.58 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 50
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.1
DXO Low light score not tested 459
Other
Battery life - 300 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $200 $360