Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A350

Below, we will be looking at the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony A350, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the A350 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and A350 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The SZ-15 was introduced 5 years later than the A350 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony A350 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the SZ-15 matches up against the A350 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus SZ-15 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A350. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-15 Gallery & Sony A350 Gallery.

When you are looking to carry your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-15 has got external 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) while the Sony A350 has dimensions of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony A350 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the A350.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and A350 is 88 and 62 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing simply by seeing specifications. The graphic underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and A350.

To sum up, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ-15 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Olympus SZ-15 will show more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more recent SZ-15 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.