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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS20 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 ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus SZ-15 versus Panasonic ZS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is pretty close and they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was announced 15 months later than the ZS20 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the SZ-15 matches up against the ZS20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Panasonic ZS20

 SZ-15 ZS20 
RevealedJune 2013April 2012More recent by 15 months
Manually focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus SZ-15

 ZS20 SZ-15 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic ZS20

 SZ-15 ZS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-15 offers physical dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-15 versus Panasonic ZS20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the ZS20.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and ZS20 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements just by researching specs. The graphic underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and ZS20.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can expect the Olympus SZ-15 to provide you with extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more modern SZ-15 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography info
44
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
includes face detection focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
30
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus via touch
lighter than others in class (206 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography details
53
amazing zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery (260 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography factors
68
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (23mm)
long zoom (483mm)
lack of Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than others in class (206g)
boasts focus via touch
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
no Timelapse function
bad battery (260 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography information
49
focusing manually
really wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
42
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery (260 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging details
34
really wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
34
pretty wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (206 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no external microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus SZ-15Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-06-21 2012-04-26
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
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
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.50 m 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 gr (0.55 pounds) 206 gr (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 260 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $200 $349