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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX90V

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
63
Overall
51

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX90V 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
  • Announced June 2013
Sony HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced April 2015
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX90V Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony HX90V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the HX90V (18MP) is relatively close and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was brought out 22 months before the HX90V which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise summation of how the SZ-15 scores versus the HX90V with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony HX90V

 SZ-15 HX90V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Olympus SZ-15

 HX90V SZ-15 
AnnouncedApril 2015June 2013More recent by 22 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony HX90V

 SZ-15 HX90V 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX90V Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-15 has got external dimensions 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 HX90V has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony HX90V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the HX90V.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX90V size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and HX90V is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX90V top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX90V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to envision the contrast in sensor measurements only by viewing a spec sheet. The visual here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and HX90V.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Sony HX90V to provide you with extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older SZ-15 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX90V sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX90V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX90V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX90V Portrait photography highlights
44
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports face detect focus
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
45
manual focus
megapixel count decent (18MP)
comes with face detect focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography details
Sony HX90V Street photography details
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (250 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
69
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (245g)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX90V Sports photography highlights
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
57
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
great battery life (360 shots)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography info
Sony HX90V Travel photography info
68
lighter than competition (250 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (23mm)
very long zoom (483mm)
no Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
76
great battery life (360 shots)
lighter than competition (245g)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
really wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
no Time Lapse mode
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
Landscape photography with Sony HX90V
49
manual focus
rather wide (23mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse recording
53
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
great battery life (360 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX90V as a Vlogging camera
34
rather wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (250 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone port
75
really wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no mic socket
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony HX90V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony HX90V
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-06-21 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
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 16MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lb) 245 gr (0.54 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" 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 - 360 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $200 $440