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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched January 2013
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Here is a thorough comparison of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS15, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and ZS15 (12MP) but they come with the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was launched 7 months later than the ZS15 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SZ-16 iHS grades against the ZS15 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Panasonic ZS15

 SZ-16 iHS ZS15 
LaunchedJanuary 2013June 2012Fresher by 7 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 ZS15 SZ-16 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic ZS15

 SZ-16 iHS ZS15 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera often, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS comes with outer dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS15 has measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS15 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-16 iHS vs the ZS15.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-16 iHS and ZS15 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing merely by checking specifications. The visual underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-16 iHS and ZS15.

Plainly, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Olympus SZ-16 iHS to give you greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The younger SZ-16 iHS is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography details
35
good megapixels (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
21
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography highlights
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (208g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography details
42
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
36
incredible zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (260 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
61
lighter than average (208g)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (260 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography features
41
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery pack (220 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
37
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery pack (260 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS15
31
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
33
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (208g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-01-08 2012-06-29
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 208 grams (0.46 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 photographs 260 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $230 $279