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Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX300M

Portability
88
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Samsung NX300M front
Portability
86
Imaging
61
Features
73
Overall
65

Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX300M 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
  • Launched June 2013
Samsung NX300M
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 331g - 122 x 64 x 41mm
  • Revealed January 2013
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX300M Overview

Below is a extensive comparison of the Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX300M, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Samsung. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the NX300M (20MP) is relatively close but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and NX300M (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SZ-15 was revealed 6 months later than the NX300M and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX300M being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SZ-15 grades vs the NX300M with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Samsung NX300M

 SZ-15 NX300M 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX300M over the Olympus SZ-15

 NX300M SZ-15 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3.3"3"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution768k460kSharper screen (+308k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Samsung NX300M

 SZ-15 NX300M 
RevealedJune 2013January 2013Same generation
Manually focus More exact focus
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX300M Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-15 provides exterior dimensions 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 Samsung NX300M has sizing of 122mm x 64mm x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") and a weight of 331 grams (0.73 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX300M in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-15 and the NX300M.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX300M size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and NX300M is 88 and 86 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX300M top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX300M Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements simply by viewing technical specs. The graphic here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and NX300M.

As you have seen, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SZ-15 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Samsung NX300M will provide you with extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX300M sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX300M Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX300M Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography features
Samsung NX300M Portrait photography features
43
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
76
manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Street photography camera
Samsung NX300M as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
80
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
has focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography details
Samsung NX300M Sports photography details
52
great zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking focus
has phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Travel photography camera
Samsung NX300M as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition in class (250g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (23mm)
very long reach (483mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
66
has focus via touch
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography factors
Samsung NX300M Landscape photography factors
49
has manual focus
relatively wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
71
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3.3")
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-15
Vlogging with Samsung NX300M
34
relatively wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
33
screen is touchscreen
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
no microphone port
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX300M Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Samsung NX300M
 Olympus SZ-15Samsung NX300M
General Information
Company Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus SZ-15 Samsung NX300M
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2013-06-21 2013-01-03
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - DRIMe IV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
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 - 247
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 32
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3.3 inches
Display resolution 460k dot 768k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech LCD Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250g (0.55 pounds) 331g (0.73 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 122 x 64 x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6")
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 - 330 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $200 $699