Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-7

Here, we will be matching up the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony NEX-7, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and NEX-7 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-15 was revealed 19 months later than the NEX-7 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the SZ-15 grades versus the NEX-7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony Alpha NEX-7. The full galleries are provided at Olympus SZ-15 Gallery and Sony NEX-7 Gallery.

In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-15 features exterior measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony NEX-7 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony NEX-7 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the NEX-7.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and NEX-7 is 88 and 84 respectively.

In many cases, its hard to see the difference between sensor measurements just by going over a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and NEX-7.

As you can see, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SZ-15 with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-7 will offer more detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The fresher SZ-15 will have an advantage in sensor tech.