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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-7

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
Portability
84
Imaging
63
Features
71
Overall
66

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-7 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
  • Announced June 2013
Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Launched December 2011
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony NEX-7

 SZ-15 NEX-7 
LaunchedJune 2013December 2011More recent by 19 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Olympus SZ-15

 NEX-7 SZ-15 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony NEX-7

 SZ-15 NEX-7 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison

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

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-7 Portrait photography factors
44
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
77
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography details
Sony NEX-7 Street photography details
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (250g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
76
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-7 Sports photography features
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
61
good resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good battery life (430 per charge)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than average in class (250g)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (23mm)
long zoom (483mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
good battery life (430 shots)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography information
Sony NEX-7 Landscape photography information
49
you can focus manually
pretty wide (23mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
72
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (430 shots)
no image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-7 Vlogging advice
34
pretty wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (250 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
35
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone socket
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony NEX-7
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Alpha NEX-7
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Sony Alpha NEX-7
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2013-06-21 2011-12-13
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250g (0.55 pounds) 400g (0.88 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 81
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 1016
Other
Battery life - 430 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $200 $699