Clicky

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax Q7

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Pentax Q7 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
54
Overall
43

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax Q7 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
  • Released June 2013
Pentax Q7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Announced August 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax Q10
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax Q7 Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax Q7, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and Q7 (12MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and Q7 (1/1.7") offer totally different sensor size.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The SZ-15 was revealed around the same time to the Q7 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SZ-15 scores vs the Q7 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Pentax Q7

 SZ-15 Q7 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q7 over the Olympus SZ-15

 Q7 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax Q7

 SZ-15 Q7 
AnnouncedJune 2013August 2013Same age
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax Q7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-15 has external measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q7 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax Q7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the SZ-15 and the Q7.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax Q7 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and Q7 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax Q7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax Q7 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to see the difference in sensor measurements simply by viewing a spec sheet. The visual here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and Q7.

Clearly, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ-15 having a smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Olympus SZ-15 will result in extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax Q7 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax Q7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax Q7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-15
Portrait photography with Pentax Q7
44
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
48
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography highlights
Pentax Q7 Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (250 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
lighter than others (200g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/1.7")
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography factors
Pentax Q7 Sports photography factors
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes tracking focus
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
bad battery (250 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax Q7 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition (250g)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (23mm)
long zoom (483mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
60
lighter than others (200 grams)
has built in flash
bad battery (250 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography features
Pentax Q7 Landscape photography features
49
has manual focus
really wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
bad battery (250 CIPA)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax Q7 as a Vlogging camera
34
really wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (250 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have mic jack
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (200 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone port
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax Q7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax Q7
 Olympus SZ-15Pentax Q7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-15 Pentax Q7
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2013-06-21 2013-08-08
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
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 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 8
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech LCD TFT color LCD monitor, wide angle viewing, AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 4.90 m (ISO100/m)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync P-TTL, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) FullHD(1920x1080, 30fps/25fps/24fps), HD(1280x720,16:9,30fps/25fps/24fps), VGA(640x480,4:3,30fps/25fps/24fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lbs) 200 gr (0.44 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 - 250 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (12 sec, 2 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC and Eye-Fi Card
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $200 $480