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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A580

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A580 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
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced May 2011
  • Previous Model is Sony A100
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A580 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony A580, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the A580 (16MP) is fairly close but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-15 was unveiled 2 years after the A580 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SZ-15 scores against the A580 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony A580

 SZ-15 A580 
AnnouncedJune 2013May 2011Newer by 26 months

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Olympus SZ-15

 A580 SZ-15 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A580

 SZ-15 A580 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-15 enjoys 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) whilst the Sony A580 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony A580 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ-15 vs the A580.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and A580 is 88 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by viewing specifications. The pic underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and A580.

To sum up, each of the cameras have got the exact same MP but different sensor dimensions. The SZ-15 uses the smaller sensor which is going to make getting shallow DOF trickier. The newer SZ-15 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A580 as a Portrait photography camera
44
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-15
Street photography with Sony A580
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
75
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography highlights
Sony A580 Sports photography highlights
53
great zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking focus
good battery power (1,050 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography highlights
Sony A580 Travel photography highlights
68
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (23mm)
long zoom (483mm)
no Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
good battery power (1,050 CIPA)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A580 as a Landscape photography camera
49
has manual focus
relatively wide (23mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse function
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good battery power (1,050 CIPA)
two card slots
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging highlights
Sony A580 Vlogging highlights
34
relatively wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic socket
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A580
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-15 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2013-06-21 2011-05-26
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 grams (0.55 pounds) 599 grams (1.32 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1121
Other
Battery life - 1050 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 Dual
Cost at launch $200 $848