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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic TS3

Portability
88
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic TS3 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
  • Released June 2013
Panasonic TS3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Announced August 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FT3
  • Succeeded the Panasonic TS2
  • Updated by Panasonic TS4
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic TS3 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic TS3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and TS3 (12MP) but they possess the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ-15 was launched 23 months later than the TS3 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SZ-15 matches up against the TS3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Panasonic TS3

 SZ-15 TS3 
AnnouncedJune 2013August 2011More recent by 23 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS3 over the Olympus SZ-15

 TS3 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic TS3

 SZ-15 TS3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic TS3 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-15 enjoys external 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) while the Panasonic TS3 has proportions of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic TS3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the TS3.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic TS3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and TS3 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic TS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic TS3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor measurements simply by looking through specifications. The graphic here should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-15 and TS3.

To sum up, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Olympus SZ-15 to provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The newer SZ-15 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic TS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic TS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic TS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography information
Panasonic TS3 Portrait photography information
43
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
offers face detect focus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
21
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography highlights
Panasonic TS3 Street photography highlights
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (250 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography factors
Panasonic TS3 Sports photography factors
52
long zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
37
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
weather proof
great battery (310 shots)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300 seconds)
max frames per second low (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography info
Panasonic TS3 Travel photography info
68
lighter than others (250 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (23mm)
great zoom (483mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
63
great battery (310 CIPA)
weather proof
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography info
Panasonic TS3 Landscape photography info
49
manual focus
reasonably wide (23mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse function
38
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
great battery (310 CIPA)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging info
Panasonic TS3 Vlogging info
34
reasonably wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (250 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no microphone port
31
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic TS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic TS3
 Olympus SZ-15Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FT3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Released 2013-06-21 2011-08-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
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 16MP 12MP
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 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) 28-128mm (4.6x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lbs) 197 gr (0.43 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 310 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $200 $380