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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS1 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
  • Introduced June 2013
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ6
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and ZS1 (1/2.5") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-15 was revealed 4 years after the ZS1 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a brief summation of how the SZ-15 matches up against the ZS1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Panasonic ZS1

 SZ-15 ZS1 
RevealedJune 2013May 2009More modern by 50 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Olympus SZ-15

 ZS1 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic ZS1

 SZ-15 ZS1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-15 has external 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 ZS1 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-15 against the ZS1.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and ZS1 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to see the gap between sensor sizes merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-15 and ZS1.

As you can see, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-15 having a larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus SZ-15 will offer you more detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger SZ-15 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-15
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS1
44
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
25
supports face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS1 Street photography features
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (250 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography factors
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
24
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS1
68
lighter than others (250 grams)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (23mm)
very long reach (483mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
63
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
missing Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Landscape photography camera
49
focusing manually
fairly wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging highlights
34
fairly wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (250g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
lighter than others in class (229 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic ZS1
 Olympus SZ-15Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-06-21 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 6.3
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 grams (0.55 pounds) 229 grams (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 ID SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $200 $0