Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony TX5

Following is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony TX5, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and TX5 (10MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and TX5 (1/2.4") provide different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The SZ-15 was unveiled 3 years after the TX5 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony TX5 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the SZ-15 grades vs the TX5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5. The full galleries are available at Olympus SZ-15 Gallery and Sony TX5 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-15 provides exterior measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) while the Sony TX5 has measurements of 94mm x 57mm x 18mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 148 grams (0.33 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony TX5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-15 vs the TX5.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and TX5 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Generally, it can be difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes only by viewing a spec sheet. The picture below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and TX5.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ-15 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus SZ-15 will result in greater detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The fresher SZ-15 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.