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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic SZ5 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
  • Launched June 2013
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Revealed July 2012
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic SZ5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is relatively close and both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was revealed 12 months later than the SZ5 so they are both of a similar age. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the SZ-15 grades versus the SZ5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Panasonic SZ5

 SZ-15 SZ5 
RevealedJune 2013July 2012More recent by 12 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Olympus SZ-15

 SZ5 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic SZ5

 SZ-15 SZ5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you need to consider 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") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ5 has measurements of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic SZ5 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 using at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-15 vs the SZ5.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and SZ5 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements just by viewing technical specs. The visual underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-15 and SZ5.

As you can tell, both cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can count on the Olympus SZ-15 to provide you with greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The fresher SZ-15 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography details
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography details
44
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
34
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography factors
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography factors
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (136 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography info
53
great zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
offers tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography advice
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography advice
68
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
lighter than competitors (136g)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography advice
49
has manual focus
reasonably wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
42
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-15
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ5
34
reasonably wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone jack
32
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors (136 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic jack
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic SZ5
 Olympus SZ-15Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-06-21 2012-07-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology LCD TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, 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) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lbs) 136 gr (0.30 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 - 250 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $200 $195