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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX300

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX300 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
  • Introduced June 2013
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony HX200V
  • Replacement is Sony HX400V
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Following is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony HX300, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the HX300 (20MP) is fairly close and they use the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was launched 5 months after the HX300 and they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the SZ-15 matches up versus the HX300 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony HX300

 SZ-15 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus SZ-15

 HX300 SZ-15 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony HX300

 SZ-15 HX300 
RevealedJune 2013February 2013Same age
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-15 enjoys external measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony HX300 has proportions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony HX300 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the SZ-15 against the HX300.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and HX300 is 88 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes merely by looking through specs. The pic underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-15 and HX300.

All in all, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Sony HX300 to result in more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images somewhat more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX300 Portrait photography highlights
44
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
42
manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography features
Sony HX300 Street photography features
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (250 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
50
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than competitors in class (623 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-15
Sports photography with Sony HX300
53
incredible zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes tracking focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
55
excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
has tracking focus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
Travel photography with Sony HX300
68
lighter than average in class (250g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (23mm)
great reach (483mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
54
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (623g)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography info
Sony HX300 Landscape photography info
49
has manual focus
decently wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
48
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging factors
Sony HX300 Vlogging factors
34
decently wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (250 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have mic support
25
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone jack
more heavy than competitors in class (623 grams)
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony HX300
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-15 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-06-21 2013-02-20
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focus range 5cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lbs) 623 gr (1.37 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $200 $339