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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX1

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX1 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 RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Released February 2013
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Following is a complete assessment of the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony RX1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and RX1 (Full frame) provide different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-15 was introduced 5 months after the RX1 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SZ-15 scores vs the RX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony RX1

 SZ-15 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Olympus SZ-15

 RX1 SZ-15 
Display resolution1229k460kSharper display (+769k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony RX1

 SZ-15 RX1 
ReleasedJune 2013February 2013Similar generation
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-15 provides outer measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony RX1 has proportions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony RX1 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 dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ-15 and the RX1.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and RX1 is 88 and 79 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over a spec sheet. The image here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-15 and RX1.

Clearly, each of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-15 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony RX1 will deliver greater detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX1 Portrait photography highlights
44
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
comes with face detect focus
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
82
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/4,000s)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-15
Street photography with Sony RX1
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (250 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
66
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW files
very good high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-15
Sports photography with Sony RX1
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
53
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
fixed focal length (35mm)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery power (270 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography information
Sony RX1 Travel photography information
68
lighter than average (250g)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (23mm)
very long zoom (483mm)
no Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
62
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
very good max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Time Lapse function
bad battery power (270 shots)
heavier than competition in class (482g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography features
Sony RX1 Landscape photography features
49
has manual focus
decently wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Timelapse mode
65
focusing manually
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3")
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery power (270 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging factors
Sony RX1 Vlogging factors
34
decently wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (250g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no microphone port
34
very good max aperture (f2.0)
provides face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic port
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (482 grams)
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony RX1
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-15 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-06-21 2013-02-19
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) 35mm (1x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.0-22.0
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology LCD Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/4000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum 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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250g (0.55 lbs) 482g (1.06 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 93
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.3
DXO Low light score not tested 2534
Other
Battery life - 270 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $200 $2,798