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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A300

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
45
Overall
47

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A300 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 A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Introduced January 2008
  • Newer Model is Sony A330
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A300 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A300, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and A300 (10MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and A300 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-15 was introduced 5 years after the A300 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a quick view of how the SZ-15 matches up versus the A300 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony A300

 SZ-15 A300 
IntroducedJune 2013January 2008More modern by 66 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Olympus SZ-15

 A300 SZ-15 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A300

 SZ-15 A300 
Manual focus More exact focus
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-15 provides external dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony A300 has measurements of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A300 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ-15 against the A300.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A300 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and A300 is 88 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reviewing specs. The pic here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-15 and A300.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-15 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Olympus SZ-15 will deliver extra detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The younger SZ-15 will have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A300 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A300 Portrait photography highlights
44
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-15
Street photography with Sony A300
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
74
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography advice
Sony A300 Sports photography advice
53
long zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has tracking focus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
54
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
Travel photography with Sony A300
68
lighter than competition in class (250g)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (23mm)
very long zoom (483mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
45
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
Landscape photography with Sony A300
49
focusing manually
pretty wide (23mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
57
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (10MP)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging factors
Sony A300 Vlogging factors
34
pretty wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
9
can't record video
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A300
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-15 Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2013-06-21 2008-01-30
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lb) 632 grams (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.4
DXO Low light score not tested 538
Other
Battery model SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $200 $0