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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Revealed June 2013
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-3
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

The following is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax K-3 II, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and K-3 II (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-15 was unveiled 22 months earlier than the K-3 II making them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summation of how the SZ-15 grades versus the K-3 II with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Pentax K-3 II

 SZ-15 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Olympus SZ-15

 K-3 II SZ-15 
AnnouncedApril 2015June 2013Newer by 22 months
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax K-3 II

 SZ-15 K-3 II 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-15 enjoys exterior dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 II has sizing of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax K-3 II in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the K-3 II.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and K-3 II is 88 and 59 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to see the gap between sensor dimensions only by checking specs. The image here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and K-3 II.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-15 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-3 II will give extra detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SZ-15 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Portrait photography camera
44
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
supports face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
79
manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Street photography advice
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (250 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
very good ISO range (51,200)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Sports photography camera
53
amazing zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
terrible battery power (720 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography info
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography info
68
lighter than average (250 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (23mm)
very long reach (483mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
56
weather proofing
resolution is good (24MP)
terrible battery power (720 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography advice
49
manual focus
relatively wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
terrible battery power (720 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging features
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging features
34
relatively wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (250 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic jack
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax K-3 II
 Olympus SZ-15Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-15 Pentax K-3 II
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2013-06-21 2015-04-23
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 8.3fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 secs
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 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lb) 800 gr (1.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.6
DXO Low light score not tested 1106
Other
Battery life - 720 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One 2
Cost at launch $200 $829