Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZR1

Following is a detailed overview of the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic ZR1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and ZR1 (12MP) but they possess the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was introduced 3 years after the ZR1 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SZ-15 grades vs the ZR1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-15 Gallery and Panasonic ZR1 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-15 has 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) while the Panasonic ZR1 has dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic ZR1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the ZR1.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and ZR1 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizes merely by checking out specs. The image underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and ZR1.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus SZ-15 to show greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The fresher SZ-15 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.