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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 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
  • Released June 2013
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Renewed by Sony RX100 II
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony RX100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the RX100 (20MP) is relatively similar but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and RX100 (1") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-15 was revealed 10 months after the RX100 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a short overview of how the SZ-15 scores vs the RX100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony RX100

 SZ-15 RX100 
RevealedJune 2013August 2012More modern by 10 months

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Olympus SZ-15

 RX100 SZ-15 
Screen resolution1229k460kClearer screen (+769k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony RX100

 SZ-15 RX100 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-15 has external measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony RX100 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony RX100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-15 and the RX100.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and RX100 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over specifications. The pic underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-15 and RX100.

To sum up, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-15 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony RX100 will offer you greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more modern SZ-15 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-15
Portrait photography with Sony RX100
44
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
64
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
good resolution (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
includes face detect focus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography advice
Sony RX100 Street photography advice
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
79
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (240g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Sports photography camera
53
great zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
includes tracking focus
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography highlights
Sony RX100 Travel photography highlights
68
lighter than competitors (250g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (23mm)
great reach (483mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
79
lighter than competitors in class (240 grams)
good resolution (20MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography advice
Sony RX100 Landscape photography advice
49
manual focus
rather wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
74
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging details
Sony RX100 Vlogging details
34
rather wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing mic socket
38
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (240 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of mic socket
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony RX100
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Released 2013-06-21 2012-08-28
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology LCD WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
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 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 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lbs) 240 gr (0.53 lbs)
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 All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 390
Other
Battery life - 330 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $200 $448