Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic ZS15

The following is a complete assessment of the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic ZS15, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and ZS15 (12MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SH-3 was brought out 3 years after the ZS15 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief view of how the SH-3 scores vs the ZS15 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus SH-3 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15. The entire galleries are available at Olympus SH-3 Gallery & Panasonic ZS15 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-3 has exterior dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS15 has measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic ZS15 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SH-3 and the ZS15.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-3 and ZS15 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Usually, it can be difficult to picture the gap in sensor dimensions simply by checking out specs. The picture below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-3 and ZS15.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can expect the Olympus SH-3 to provide extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The fresher SH-3 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.