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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Introduced March 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-1
  • Updated by Olympus SH-3
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS15, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and ZS15 (12MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SH-2 was introduced 2 years later than the ZS15 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the SH-2 scores vs the ZS15 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Panasonic ZS15

 SH-2 ZS15 
ReleasedMarch 2015June 2012Fresher by 33 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus SH-2

 ZS15 SH-2 

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic ZS15

 SH-2 ZS15 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-2 comes with physical dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS15 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS15 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SH-2 and the ZS15.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-2 and ZS15 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizing simply by checking a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-2 and ZS15.

Clearly, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Olympus SH-2 to resolve more detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The newer SH-2 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography highlights
44
MP count decent (16MP)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
21
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Street photography camera
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
lighter than average in class (271g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (208g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography features
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
provides tracking focus
great battery pack (380 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
36
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (260 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Travel photography camera
74
great battery pack (380 per charge)
lighter than average in class (271 grams)
boasts focus via touch
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
61
lighter than average (208g)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (260 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography details
55
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
37
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery pack (260 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging factors
35
rather wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (271g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
33
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (208 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SH-2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2015-03-11 2012-06-29
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-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 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 11.5 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271g (0.60 lb) 208g (0.46 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 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 380 images 260 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $399 $279