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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Revealed June 2013
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-5
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony NEX-5N, former is 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-5N (16MP) is relatively similar but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-15 was launched 21 months after the NEX-5N which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SZ-15 scores versus the NEX-5N in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 SZ-15 NEX-5N 
RevealedJune 2013October 2011Newer by 21 months

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

 NEX-5N SZ-15 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 SZ-15 NEX-5N 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-15 has got physical measurements 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 NEX-5N has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-15 and the NEX-5N.

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

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and NEX-5N is 88 and 89 respectively.

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

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by going over specs. The pic below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and NEX-5N.

As you can plainly see, both cameras provide the same megapixels albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The SZ-15 uses the tinier sensor which will make achieving bokeh more difficult. The fresher SZ-15 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

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

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

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography information
44
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
includes face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
73
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (250 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-15
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5N
53
incredible zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
includes tracking focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
58
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery pack (460 per charge)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than average in class (250g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (23mm)
very long zoom (483mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
70
good battery pack (460 per charge)
supports touch to focus
good MP (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5N
49
focusing manually
reasonably wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
71
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (460 per charge)
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-15
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5N
34
reasonably wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (250g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
33
has touchscreen
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
lack of external mic port
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony NEX-5N
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-06-21 2011-10-03
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 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
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lb) 269 gr (0.59 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 Overall rating not tested 77
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1079
Other
Battery life - 460 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 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 One One
Retail pricing $200 $550