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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GX85

Portability
88
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 front
Portability
83
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GX85 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 GX85
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 122 x 71 x 44mm
  • Launched April 2016
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GX85 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic GX85, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the GX85 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and GX85 (Four Thirds) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-15 was introduced 3 years prior to the GX85 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GX85 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SZ-15 matches up against the GX85 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Panasonic GX85

 SZ-15 GX85 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX85 over the Olympus SZ-15

 GX85 SZ-15 
LaunchedApril 2016June 2013More modern by 33 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic GX85

 SZ-15 GX85 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GX85 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-15 features outer measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GX85 has sizing of 122mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic GX85 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-15 against the GX85.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GX85 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and GX85 is 88 and 83 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GX85 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GX85 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes just by looking at a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and GX85.

As you can see, both the cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor sizes. The SZ-15 has the tinier sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult. The more aged SZ-15 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GX85 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GX85 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GX85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-15
Portrait photography with Panasonic GX85
43
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GX85 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (250 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
83
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography factors
Panasonic GX85 Sports photography factors
52
long zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
62
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography details
Panasonic GX85 Travel photography details
68
lighter than average in class (250g)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
has focus by touch
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GX85 as a Landscape photography camera
49
has manual focus
rather wide (23mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging advice
Panasonic GX85 Vlogging advice
34
rather wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (250g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
35
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic GX85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic GX85
 Olympus SZ-15Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2013-06-21 2016-04-05
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 49
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,764 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 6.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250g (0.55 lbs) 426g (0.94 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 122 x 71 x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 71
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 662
Other
Battery life - 290 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $200 $800