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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX20V 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
  • Launched June 2013
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched July 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX10V
  • Successor is Sony HX30V
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX20V Overview

The following is a extensive comparison of the Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX20V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the HX20V (18MP) is fairly similar and they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was manufactured 12 months after the HX20V so they are of a similar age. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple view of how the SZ-15 matches up vs the HX20V with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony HX20V

 SZ-15 HX20V 
LaunchedJune 2013July 2012Newer by 12 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus SZ-15

 HX20V SZ-15 
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony HX20V

 SZ-15 HX20V 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-15 has exterior dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony HX20V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX20V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-15 against the HX20V.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and HX20V is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to picture the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading a spec sheet. The picture underneath might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-15 and HX20V.

As you can see, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You can anticipate the Sony HX20V to deliver greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images much more aggressively. The newer SZ-15 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography information
Sony HX20V Portrait photography information
44
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
45
manual focus
good MP (18MP)
has face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography info
Sony HX20V Street photography info
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (250g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (254g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-15
Sports photography with Sony HX20V
53
great zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competitors in class (250 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (23mm)
great zoom (483mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than others in class (254 grams)
good MP (18MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX20V Landscape photography highlights
49
manual focus
fairly wide (23mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
50
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging information
Sony HX20V Vlogging information
34
fairly wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (250g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of mic jack
34
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (254 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of mic port
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony HX20V
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-06-21 2012-07-20
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250g (0.55 lb) 254g (0.56 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 320 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $200 $397