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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A99

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A99 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
  • Launched June 2013
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Revealed December 2012
  • Older Model is Sony A900
  • Replacement is Sony A99 II
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A99 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A99, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) use totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-15 was released 7 months later than the A99 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise overview of how the SZ-15 grades versus the A99 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Sony A99

 SZ-15 A99 
RevealedJune 2013December 2012Fresher by 7 months

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Olympus SZ-15

 A99 SZ-15 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1229k460kClearer display (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A99

 SZ-15 A99 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-15 has got external 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) and the Sony A99 has sizing of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A99 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-15 and the A99.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-15 and A99 is 88 and 57 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizing merely by reviewing specifications. The graphic here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and A99.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ-15 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony A99 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively. The more recent SZ-15 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography factors
Sony A99 Portrait photography factors
44
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports face detection focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
81
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography highlights
Sony A99 Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (250g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
75
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A99 as a Sports photography camera
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
Travel photography with Sony A99
68
lighter than average (250g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
missing Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
60
weather proofing
good resolution (24 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography factors
Sony A99 Landscape photography factors
49
manual focus
rather wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
not so great battery pack (500 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-15
Vlogging with Sony A99
34
rather wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (250g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
76
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Sony A99
 Olympus SZ-15Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Sony SLT-A99
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2013-06-21 2012-12-12
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lb) 812 gr (1.79 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 89
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1555
Other
Battery life - 500 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots 1 Dual
Price at release $200 $1,998