Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS45

Olympus SZ-15 vs. Panasonic Lumix ZS45: A Hands-On Comparative Review for the Discerning Photographer

In my years as a photography equipment reviewer, I have encountered a myriad of compact superzoom cameras, each with unique compromises and strengths. The Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic Lumix ZS45 are two compact superzoom cameras that, while similar on the surface, cater to subtly different user preferences and photographic styles. I’ve tested both extensively across a variety of shooting disciplines - from serene landscapes to fast-paced sports scenes - to deeply understand their real-world performance and how they might meet your photographic needs.

Let’s dive into a detailed, experience-driven comparison that examines their design, sensor capabilities, autofocus, image quality, and suitability for various genres. I’ll also share insights into their value proposition and who truly benefits from each model.

First Impressions: Form Factor and Handling in Hand

When you first pick up these cameras, the physical ergonomics and design language matter a lot, especially for travel or street photographers where handling comfort is pivotal.

The Olympus SZ-15 measures 108x70x40 mm and weighs about 250 grams, giving it a moderately chunky feel for a compact. The Panasonic Lumix ZS45, with dimensions 108x60x32 mm and a very similar weight of around 249 grams, feels noticeably slimmer and more streamlined in hand.

The slightly reduced thickness of the Panasonic and the tapered grip make it easier for extended handheld shooting, especially given its more refined control layout (we’ll get there shortly). I particularly appreciated the Panasonic’s better balanced ergonomics during wildlife shooting sessions, where long hold times are common.

Weight-wise, the two are neck and neck, making both suitable for pocket carry, although the SZ-15’s boxier shape can sometimes feel a bit unwieldy in tight pockets or smaller bags.

Up Close with Controls: Interface and Usability

Control layout and user interface impact how quickly you can adjust to shooting fast-moving scenes or creatively explore slow shutter times or apertures.

The Olympus SZ-15 has a simple control hierarchy with fewer dedicated dials but retains manual exposure capabilities including shutter and aperture priority modes, which was refreshing. However, the tactile feedback on some buttons felt a bit mushy in my testing, and lacking an articulated screen limited composition flexibility, especially at odd angles.

Conversely, the Panasonic ZS45 boasts a neatly organized top plate with distinct dials and buttons for quick access to exposure compensation, drive modes, and video recording. Its 3-inch tilting screen with 1040k-dot resolution enhances live view framing significantly, facilitating easier macro and street photography compositions.

While neither camera has a touchscreen, the Panasonic’s interface felt more modern and responsive. For me, this impressed in dynamic shooting situations when quick menu navigation is essential.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

At their cores, both cameras feature the common 1/2.3-inch sensor size typical of the small-sensor superzoom class, but subtle differences in sensor type and processing influence image outcomes.

The Olympus SZ-15 uses a CCD sensor, which traditionally leans toward excellent color rendition and noise control at base ISO, though it often struggles at higher sensitivities. The Panasonic ZS45 follows a more modern CMOS architecture, offering more flexibility in autofocus performance and typically better high ISO noise management.

Both models share a 16MP resolution (4608×3456). In my side-by-side comparisons shooting controlled scenes, Olympus delivered slightly punchier colors and pleasing skin tones in portrait scenarios, while Panasonic’s CMOS sensor yielded cleaner images at ISO 800 and beyond, advantageous in low light and indoor shooting.

Neither camera supports RAW capture, restricting flexibility in post-processing. This is a notable limitation if you intend heavy editing workflows. For casual shooters and those shooting JPG straight out of the camera, both provide solid results within their operational envelope.

Lens Reach and Optical Performance: Zoom Versatility

Superzooms live and die by their lens flexibility. Both cameras provide very substantial reach designed for travel and generalist photographers.

The Olympus SZ-15’s 23-483mm (21× optical zoom) with an aperture range of F2.8-5.9 caters well to varied scenarios, especially with its relatively bright wide end for landscapes and portraits. Its minimum focusing distance of 5 cm enables decent close-ups, though not outstanding macro capabilities.

The Panasonic ZS45 sports a 24-480mm equivalent zoom (20×), slightly shorter on the wide end but comparable telephoto reach. The maximum aperture range of F3.3-6.4 is marginally slower overall, which can impact performance in dim environments. However, its 3 cm macro focus range outperforms Olympus, permitting impressively close detail shots.

In my wildlife shooting trials, Panasonic’s zooming mechanism was smoother, with less audible lens noise – a bonus for sneaking up on skittish subjects. Both have built-in optical image stabilization, critical for handheld telephoto sharpness, which fared effectively, though Olympus’s stabilization felt somewhat less refined in my handheld video testing.

Autofocus System: Speed and Accuracy Under Pressure

Autofocus prowess is critical, especially for wildlife, sports, and street photographers aiming to capture split-second moments.

The Olympus SZ-15 utilizes contrast detection AF with face detection capabilities but lacks continuous autofocus and live view tracking, limiting its speed and lock-on reliability. It provides single, center, multi-area, and face detection AF modes but no touch or phase detection AF. The maximum of 10 fps continuous shooting is solid but best used with stationary or slow subjects.

Panasonic’s ZS45’s autofocus system advances the game with 21 contrast-detection focus points and continuous autofocus options, enhancing subject tracking in live view shooting. Face detection works well, and multi-area AF improves accuracy in cluttered scenes such as street photography.

From capturing bustling street scenes to a quick bird-in-flight, I found the Panasonic more responsive with fewer hunting delays. The Olympus’s AF, while decent in bright conditions and simple scenes, struggled to maintain focus in low light and fast action settings.

Display and Viewfinder: Framing Your Shots

An articulated display can be invaluable for composing from unusual angles or for selfies, while optical or electronic viewfinders cater to bright environments where LCD use falters.

Neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder, which is a disadvantage for photographers shooting in bright sunlight. The Olympus SZ-15 has a fixed 3-inch, 460k-dot LCD that offers basic framing but limited articulation.

Panasonic’s ZS45 features a 3-inch, 1040k-dot LCD with 180-degree tilt functionality, a standout feature in this comparison. The higher resolution screen brings greater clarity for checking focus and detail, and the tilt expands compositional creativity – invaluable for macro and street style photography.

Burst Shooting and Video: Capturing Motion and Memories

Both cameras provide a maximum continuous shooting speed of 10 fps, a respectable figure at this class but with caveats.

Olympus limits autofocus adjustment to single shot mode, so continuous autofocusing during bursts is unavailable, decreasing tracking efficacy during fast sequences. Panasonic compensates with continuous AF during bursts, enhancing capture success of moving targets like sports players or pets.

Video capabilities are modest on both, limited to Full HD 1080p at 30 fps. Olympus offers additional slower frame rate modes (240fps, 480fps) for quirky slow-motion capture but at drastically reduced resolutions unsuitable for quality playback.

Neither camera provides microphone or headphone ports, limiting video audio control for serious videographers. Panasonic’s higher resolution screen and better autofocus during recording make it the preferred option for casual video work.

Battery Life and Connectivity: Convenience On The Go

In practical shooting scenarios, battery stamina and connectivity options influence how much you can shoot without interruption.

Panasonic’s ZS45 boasts a rated battery life of approximately 350 shots per charge, which I verified in field testing to be solid for day trips and urban exploration.

Olympus does not provide official battery life figures for the SZ-15, but based on my use, it tends to drain faster, likely related to older battery technology and processing inefficiencies.

Both cameras feature built-in Wi-Fi for wireless image transfer and remote control capabilities, aiding workflow convenience. The Olympus adds integrated GPS tagging – a boon for travel photographers/geotagging enthusiasts to track image locations without a smartphone.

Durability and Environmental Robustness

Neither camera is weather sealed or offers rugged features. The compact form factors make them less suitable for harsh or extreme conditions, which is standard for this category but worth noting for outdoor adventurers.

Sample Image Quality: Real-World Shoots Side by Side

Olympus SZ 15 front Olympus SZ 15 screen back Panasonic ZS45 front Panasonic ZS45 screen back

In controlled light landscapes, images from both cameras are sharp and vibrant. Olympus images tend toward saturated colors and warm skin tones, pleasing for portraiture but occasionally oversaturated for naturalistic landscapes.

Panasonic’s images show slightly cleaner shadows and less chromatic aberration at long zoom ends, delivering more usable detail under more challenging lighting.

In low light, Panasonic’s CMOS sensor reduces noise more effectively, making it clearly superior for night street photography or indoor events. For casual macro photography, Panasonic’s closer focusing and tilting screen make framing detail shots more enjoyable and successful.

Performance Ratings and Genre Suitability

• Portraits: Olympus shines with more flattering skin tones but limited AF tracking can be constraining. Panasonic’s continuous AF and sharper images make it better for spontaneous portraits.
• Landscape: Panasonic’s cleaner dynamic range and better lens sharpness at telephoto lend it an edge, though Olympus offers a brighter max aperture.
• Wildlife & Sports: Panasonic’s continuous AF and better burst autofocus make it the clear winner.
• Street & Travel: Panasonic’s compactness, tilting screen, and battery life delight travelers.
• Macro: Panasonic outperforms thanks to 3cm focusing distance and display flexibility.
• Night/Astro: Panasonic’s higher ISO tolerance rules this category.
• Video: Panasonic delivers smoother continuous focus and higher resolution display usability.
• Professional Use: Neither offers RAW or advanced file formats, limiting professional possibilities.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Fits Your Vision?

The Olympus SZ-15 is best suited to budget-conscious users valuing vibrant color rendition and straightforward ergonomics, shooting mostly in good light with a preference for standard superzoom versatility. Its reliable GPS tagging is also advantageous for travel hobbyists.

The Panasonic Lumix ZS45, priced approximately $100 higher, justifies its premium via advanced autofocus, better low light performance, substantially superior LCD screen, and longer battery life. It excels for photographers needing a compact, flexible camera capable of shooting diverse genres including wildlife, macro, and casual video.

Recommendations Summary

• Choose Olympus SZ-15 if: You want vivid color straight from the camera, prefer simple handling with manual exposure control, and desire built-in GPS without breaking the bank.
• Choose Panasonic ZS45 if: You need smarter autofocus, better burst shooting with continuous AF, enhanced low light capabilities, a more ergonomic form factor for travel/street, and a flexible tilting screen for creative framing.

In my experience testing both extensively, the Panasonic ZS45 stands out as the more versatile and performance-packed option. However, Olympus’s SZ-15 remains attractive for those prioritizing cost savings and simpler operation without sacrificing superzoom reach.

Selecting between these two requires balancing your budget with specific photographic demands. If you crave professional-grade RAW files or expanded manual controls, neither camera fits that bill, but for entry-level enthusiast superzoom shooters, both represent compelling choices in their niche.

Disclosure: I have no affiliations with Olympus or Panasonic. All testing was conducted under real-world conditions using standard industry methodologies to ensure impartial evaluation.