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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 IV 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
  • Announced June 2013
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Revealed June 2015
  • Superseded the Sony RX100 III
  • Updated by Sony RX100 V
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony RX100 IV, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is pretty close but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and RX100 IV (1") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-15 was unveiled 23 months before the RX100 IV which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SZ-15 grades against the RX100 IV when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony RX100 IV

 SZ-15 RX100 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Olympus SZ-15

 RX100 IV SZ-15 
RevealedJune 2015June 2013Newer by 23 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k460kCrisper screen (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony RX100 IV

 SZ-15 RX100 IV 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-15 offers outer 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) while the Sony RX100 IV has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") along with a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony RX100 IV in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-15 vs the RX100 IV.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and RX100 IV is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions just by researching specs. The picture below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and RX100 IV.

All in all, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-15 using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony RX100 IV will render more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SZ-15 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography factors
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography factors
44
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
65
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography advice
Sony RX100 IV Street photography advice
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than others in class (298g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Sports photography camera
53
incredible zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking focus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
68
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
high fps (16.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
supports tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition in class (250g)
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (23mm)
very long reach (483mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
86
lighter than others in class (298 grams)
good MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
fairly wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
Landscape photography with Sony RX100 IV
49
you can focus manually
fairly wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
74
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging highlights
Sony RX100 IV Vlogging highlights
34
fairly wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
81
fairly wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than others in class (298g)
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony RX100 IV
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-15 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-06-21 2015-06-10
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 16.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 lb) 298 gr (0.66 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 562
Other
Battery life - 280 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $200 $898