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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic LS5

Portability
88
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
25
Overall
32

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic LS5 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
  • Revealed June 2013
Panasonic LS5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 126g - 97 x 62 x 27mm
  • Revealed July 2011
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic LS5 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-15 versus Panasonic LS5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the LS5 (14MP) is pretty well matched and they feature the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was unveiled 24 months after the LS5 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SZ-15 matches up against the LS5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Panasonic LS5

 SZ-15 LS5 
RevealedJune 2013July 2011Newer by 24 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LS5 over the Olympus SZ-15

 LS5 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic LS5

 SZ-15 LS5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic LS5 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-15 features 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) and the Panasonic LS5 has specifications of 97mm x 62mm x 27mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-15 versus Panasonic LS5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-15 versus the LS5.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic LS5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and LS5 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic LS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic LS5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specs. The image below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-15 and LS5.

All in all, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You can expect the Olympus SZ-15 to give you extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more recent SZ-15 should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic LS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic LS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic LS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic LS5 Portrait photography factors
43
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
includes face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
33
good MP (14MP)
provides face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-15
Street photography with Panasonic LS5
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
62
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (126g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography details
Panasonic LS5 Sports photography details
52
amazing zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
32
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (160 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography info
Panasonic LS5 Travel photography info
68
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (23mm)
great reach (483mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
65
lighter than competitors (126 grams)
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery pack (160 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
Landscape photography with Panasonic LS5
49
you can focus manually
fairly wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
36
relatively wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
low battery pack (160 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LS5 as a Vlogging camera
34
fairly wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
32
relatively wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors (126g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic LS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic LS5
 Olympus SZ-15Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-06-21 2011-07-21
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 area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.50 m 4.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250g (0.55 lbs) 126g (0.28 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 97 x 62 x 27mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 life - 160 photos
Battery form - AA
Battery model SLB-10A 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $200 $294