Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic LX10

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic LX10, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the LX10 (20MP) is fairly close but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and LX10 (1") posses different sensor size.

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The SZ-15 was introduced 4 years prior to the LX10 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LX10 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a concise overview of how the SZ-15 grades versus the LX10 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus SZ-15 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX10. The whole galleries are available at Olympus SZ-15 Gallery & Panasonic LX10 Gallery.

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-15 offers outer measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LX10 has measurements of 106mm x 60mm x 42mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.7") and a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic LX10 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ-15 vs the LX10.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and LX10 is 88 and 88 respectively.

Typically, its hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes just by viewing specifications. The pic underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and LX10.

To sum up, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ-15 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Panasonic LX10 will render extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged SZ-15 will be behind in sensor tech.