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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A9 II

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 Mark II front
Portability
62
Imaging
75
Features
93
Overall
82

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A9 II 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
  • Launched June 2013
Sony A9 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 678g - 129 x 96 x 76mm
  • Introduced October 2019
  • Earlier Model is Sony A9
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A9 II Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony A9 II, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and A9 II (24MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and A9 II (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-15 was revealed 7 years prior to the A9 II and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SZ-15 matches up vs the A9 II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony A9 II

 SZ-15 A9 II 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 II over the Olympus SZ-15

 A9 II SZ-15 
IntroducedOctober 2019June 2013More recent by 76 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k460kSharper screen (+980k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A9 II

 SZ-15 A9 II 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A9 II Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-15 has outside dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony A9 II has dimensions of 129mm x 96mm x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony A9 II in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the A9 II.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A9 II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and A9 II is 88 and 62 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A9 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A9 II Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements purely by viewing specs. The photograph below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and A9 II.

All in all, both cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SZ-15 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Sony A9 II will result in extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older SZ-15 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A9 II sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A9 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A9 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography advice
Sony A9 II Portrait photography advice
44
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
85
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography highlights
Sony A9 II Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
78
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
includes focus via touch
environment sealing
great high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Sports photography camera
53
great zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports tracking focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
87
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/32,000s)
high fps (20.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
better than average battery life (690 per charge)
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
Travel photography with Sony A9 II
68
lighter than competition in class (250g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (23mm)
very long reach (483mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
73
better than average battery life (690 per charge)
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
includes focus via touch
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography details
Sony A9 II Landscape photography details
49
focusing manually
reasonably wide (23mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
86
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
great high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
better than average battery life (690 shots)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging features
Sony A9 II Vlogging features
34
reasonably wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of mic jack
36
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A9 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A9 II
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-15 Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2013-06-21 2019-10-03
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 3200 51200
Max enhanced ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 693
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 20.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
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 Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 grams (0.55 pounds) 678 grams (1.49 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 129 x 96 x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 690 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous, 3 or 5 frames)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots Single Dual
Launch cost $200 $4,498