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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5 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
  • Revealed June 2013
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony NEX-5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is pretty similar but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) offer different sensor size.

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The SZ-15 was introduced 3 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SZ-15 scores versus the NEX-5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony NEX-5

 SZ-15 NEX-5 
RevealedJune 2013June 2010Fresher by 37 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus SZ-15

 NEX-5 SZ-15 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony NEX-5

 SZ-15 NEX-5 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-15 comes with 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) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony NEX-5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-15 and the NEX-5.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and NEX-5 is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing just by going over specifications. The photograph below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-15 and NEX-5.

Plainly, each of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ-15 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus SZ-15 will offer you extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more modern SZ-15 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography highlights
44
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
72
has manual focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Street photography factors
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography information
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography information
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
52
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography advice
68
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (23mm)
great reach (483mm)
no Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
59
decent megapixels (14MP)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography advice
49
manual focus
fairly wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse mode
68
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging advice
34
fairly wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone socket
28
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing mic jack
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-15 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-06-21 2010-06-07
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG AVCHD
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 gr (0.55 lb) 287 gr (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 69
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 796
Other
Battery life - 330 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $200 $599