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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony W650

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony W650 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 W650
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 124g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony W650 Overview

Here is a in depth overview of the Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony W650, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the W650 (16MP) is fairly similar and they come with the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was revealed 18 months later than the W650 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the SZ-15 grades versus the W650 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony W650

 SZ-15 W650 
AnnouncedJune 2013January 2012Fresher by 18 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W650 over the Olympus SZ-15

 W650 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony W650

 SZ-15 W650 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony W650 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-15 enjoys outer measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony W650 has proportions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 124 grams (0.27 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony W650 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ-15 against the W650.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony W650 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and W650 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony W650 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony W650 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to see the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading a spec sheet. The visual below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and W650.

Clearly, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact resolution therefore you should expect similar quality of pictures although you really should factor the release date of the products into consideration. The fresher SZ-15 will have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony W650 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony W650 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony W650 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-15
Portrait photography with Sony W650
44
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Street photography camera
Sony W650 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (250g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (124 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-15
Sports photography with Sony W650
53
incredible zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
Travel photography with Sony W650
68
lighter than competition (250g)
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (23mm)
great zoom (483mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition in class (124 grams)
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography highlights
Sony W650 Landscape photography highlights
49
you can focus manually
fairly wide (23mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
43
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W650 as a Vlogging camera
34
fairly wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (250g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no mic jack
33
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (124g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony W650 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony W650
 Olympus SZ-15Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-15 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-06-21 2012-01-10
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech LCD Clear Photo TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 3.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 250 gr (0.55 lb) 124 gr (0.27 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 220 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/micro SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $200 $140