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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS50 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 ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS45
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS60
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus SZ-15 versus Panasonic ZS50, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and ZS50 (12MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was brought out 18 months before the ZS50 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short overview of how the SZ-15 grades versus the ZS50 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Panasonic ZS50

 SZ-15 ZS50 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus SZ-15

 ZS50 SZ-15 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015June 2013Newer by 18 months
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic ZS50

 SZ-15 ZS50 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-15 offers exterior measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS50 has sizing of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-15 versus Panasonic ZS50 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ-15 and the ZS50.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and ZS50 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specs. The picture below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-15 and ZS50.

All in all, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Olympus SZ-15 to deliver more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged SZ-15 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography factors
44
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
features face detect focusing
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
42
manual focus
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS50 Street photography information
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (250g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
68
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lighter than others (243 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS50 Sports photography factors
53
amazing zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
43
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography highlights
68
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (23mm)
very long zoom (483mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
66
lighter than others (243g)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography advice
49
focusing manually
relatively wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
51
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-15
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS50
34
relatively wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic socket
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (243g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus SZ-15Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-06-21 2015-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lb) 243 grams (0.54 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 44
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.2
DXO Low light score not tested 138
Other
Battery life - 300 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $200 $350