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Olympus SZ-15 vs Ricoh CX1

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Ricoh CX1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus SZ-15 vs Ricoh CX1 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
  • Released June 2013
Ricoh CX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-200mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 180g - 102 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released February 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-15 vs Ricoh CX1 Overview

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Olympus SZ-15 versus Ricoh CX1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Ricoh. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and CX1 (9MP) but they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was released 4 years later than the CX1 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the SZ-15 scores against the CX1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Ricoh CX1

 SZ-15 CX1 
ReleasedJune 2013February 2009More recent by 53 months

Reasons to pick Ricoh CX1 over the Olympus SZ-15

 CX1 SZ-15 
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Ricoh CX1

 SZ-15 CX1 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Ricoh CX1 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-15 provides outer measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Ricoh CX1 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-15 versus Ricoh CX1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the SZ-15 against the CX1.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Ricoh CX1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and CX1 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Ricoh CX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Ricoh CX1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reading specs. The visual underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and CX1.

All in all, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Olympus SZ-15 to deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 7 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The fresher SZ-15 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Ricoh CX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Ricoh CX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Ricoh CX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography information
Ricoh CX1 Portrait photography information
44
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
offers face detect focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
25
has manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
low MP (9MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Street photography camera
Ricoh CX1 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (250 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
55
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography details
Ricoh CX1 Sports photography details
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
26
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (9 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography details
Ricoh CX1 Travel photography details
68
lighter than competition (250g)
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
59
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
low MP (9MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Landscape photography camera
Ricoh CX1 as a Landscape photography camera
49
focusing manually
pretty wide (23mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
42
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
low MP (9 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Vlogging camera
Ricoh CX1 as a Vlogging camera
34
pretty wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (250 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
28
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Ricoh CX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Ricoh CX1
 Olympus SZ-15Ricoh CX1
General Information
Make Olympus Ricoh
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Ricoh CX1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-06-21 2009-02-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Smooth Imaging Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 9 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) 28-200mm (7.1x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 3.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250g (0.55 lb) 180g (0.40 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID SLB-10A DB-70
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2, 10 or Custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $200 $299