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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A37

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A37 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
  • Revealed June 2013
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched May 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A35
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A37 Overview

Here is a in depth comparison of the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony A37, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the A37 (16MP) is very close but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-15 was introduced 14 months later than the A37 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SZ-15 grades against the A37 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony A37

 SZ-15 A37 
LaunchedJune 2013May 2012Fresher by 14 months
Display size3"2.6"Larger display (+0.4")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Olympus SZ-15

 A37 SZ-15 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A37

 SZ-15 A37 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-15 provides outside measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Sony A37 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-15 versus Sony A37 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-15 vs the A37.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and A37 is 88 and 67 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizing merely by viewing specs. The photograph here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and A37.

All in all, both of these cameras come with the identical resolution but not the same sensor sizing. The SZ-15 provides the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF tougher. The more recent SZ-15 will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A37 as a Portrait photography camera
44
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography information
Sony A37 Street photography information
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
77
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography highlights
Sony A37 Sports photography highlights
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
not so great battery (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography details
Sony A37 Travel photography details
68
lighter than competition in class (250g)
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
54
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery (500 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography details
Sony A37 Landscape photography details
49
focusing manually
fairly wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
64
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.6 inches)
not so great battery (500 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-15
Vlogging with Sony A37
34
fairly wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic support
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic jack
display isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A37
 Olympus SZ-15Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-15 Sony SLT-A37
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-06-21 2012-05-16
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 2.6 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.50 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lb) 506 grams (1.12 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.9
DXO Low light score not tested 799
Other
Battery life - 500 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $200 $522