Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A100

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A100, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and A100 (10MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and A100 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The SZ-15 was unveiled 6 years after the A100 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the SZ-15 matches up vs the A100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SZ-15 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A100. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-15 Gallery & Sony A100 Gallery.

If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-15 enjoys exterior 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 Sony A100 has sizing of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-15 versus the A100.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and A100 is 88 and 64 respectively.

Sometimes, it is tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes just by checking out a spec sheet. The image below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-15 and A100.

As you can see, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-15 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus SZ-15 will produce greater detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The more modern SZ-15 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.