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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Introduced June 2013
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Revealed March 2011
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax RS1500, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is pretty similar and both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was unveiled 2 years after the RS1500 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the SZ-15 grades versus the RS1500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Pentax RS1500

 SZ-15 RS1500 
RevealedJune 2013March 2011Newer by 28 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus SZ-15

 RS1500 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax RS1500

 SZ-15 RS1500 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-15 features outside measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Pentax RS1500 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax RS1500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the RS1500.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and RS1500 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions simply by reading specifications. The picture below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and RS1500.

Plainly, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Olympus SZ-15 to deliver greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs more aggressively. The more modern SZ-15 provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-15
Portrait photography with Pentax RS1500
44
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
35
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography info
Pentax RS1500 Street photography info
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
54
weather proof
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography highlights
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography highlights
53
long zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
37
good megapixels (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography advice
68
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (23mm)
great zoom (483mm)
missing Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
weather proof
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Landscape photography camera
49
focusing manually
rather wide (23mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
40
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
good megapixels (14MP)
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Vlogging camera
34
rather wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (250g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
25
quite wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus SZ-15Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-15 Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-06-21 2011-03-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.50 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB 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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lb) 157 grams (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" 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 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A D-LI92
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
Retail price $200 $150