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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5R 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
  • Introduced June 2013
Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-5N
  • New Model is Sony NEX-5T
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

The following is a comprehensive review of the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony NEX-5R, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the NEX-5R (16MP) is pretty close but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and NEX-5R (APS-C) have different sensor size.

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The SZ-15 was released 10 months after the NEX-5R which means that they are of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a concise summary of how the SZ-15 grades versus the NEX-5R with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 SZ-15 NEX-5R 
RevealedJune 2013August 2012Newer by 10 months

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

 NEX-5R SZ-15 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 SZ-15 NEX-5R 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

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

If you're planning to travel with your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-15 enjoys exterior measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5R has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

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

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-15 against the NEX-5R.

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

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and NEX-5R is 88 and 89 respectively.

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

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

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions merely by viewing specs. The image underneath will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and NEX-5R.

All in all, both of the cameras feature the identical MP albeit different sensor dimensions. The SZ-15 includes the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field tougher. The more modern SZ-15 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography advice
Sony NEX-5R Portrait photography advice
44
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography details
Sony NEX-5R Street photography details
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
features touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5R as a Sports photography camera
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
68
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
supports phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-5R Travel photography advice
68
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (23mm)
great zoom (483mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
73
features touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5R Landscape photography highlights
49
focusing manually
pretty wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
75
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-15
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5R
34
pretty wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (250g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
31
touchscreen
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no external mic socket
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony NEX-5R
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-15 Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-06-21 2012-08-29
Physical type 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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 99
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology LCD Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250g (0.55 pounds) 276g (0.61 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 910
Other
Battery life - 330 photographs
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 shooting With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $200 $750