Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus SZ-15

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15
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      Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

      Overview

      In this comparison, we will evaluate the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and the Olympus SZ-15, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS was introduced in January 2013 and Olympus SZ-15 was introduced in June 2013. Let us first list highlights of the models.

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS Highlights

      • 16 MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor
      • 80 - 6,400 Native ISO
      • Image Stabilization
      • 3.0" 460k dot Fixed Screen
      • 1.5 fps Continuous Shooting
      • 1280 x 720 Video Shooting
      • Built-in Flash

      Olympus SZ-15 Highlights

      • 16 MP 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
      • 100 - 3,200 Native ISO
      • Image Stabilization
      • 3.0" 460k dot Fixed Screen
      • 10.0 fps Continuous Shooting
      • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
      • Built-in Flash
      • Built-in GPS
      • Built-In Wi-Fi
      Table of Contents
      1. Overview
      2. Pros and Cons
      3. Advantage of Olympus SZ-16 iHS
      4. Advantage of Olympus SZ-15
      5. Common Strengths and Weaknesses
      6. Screen
      7. Sensor
      8. Photography Features
      9. Connectivity, Battery and Storage
      10. Other Features
      11. Physical Parameters
      12. For Different Types of Photography
      13. Evaluations
      14. Specifications  

      Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

      Pros and Cons

      In this section we present pros and cons of Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Olympus SZ-15.

      PROS

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      •   Video Capture
      •   80 Lowest Native ISO
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Built-in Flash
      •   HDMI Output
      •   Light - 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz)
      •   Orientation Sensor
      •   Cheap
      •   Video Capture
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Built-in Flash
      •   HDMI Output
      •   Built-in GPS
      •   Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   Light - 250 g (0.55 lb / 8.82 oz)
      •   Orientation Sensor

      CONS

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      •   Small Sensor
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.5 fps
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 220 shots
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      •   No Environmental Sealing


      And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

      AVERAGE

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 10.0 fps

      Advantage of Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS
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      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Olympus SZ-16 iHS over Olympus SZ-15.

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus SZ-15
      Lower Native ISO 80 vs 100
      Higher Native ISO 6,400 vs 3,200
      Reachs More Telephoto 600 mm vs 483 mm
      Greater Optical Zoom 24x vs 21x
      Built-in Microphone Stereo vs Mono
      Lighter 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz) vs 250 g (0.55 lb / 8.82 oz)

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Olympus SZ-16 iHS.

      Olympus SZ-10
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      1/2.3-inch

      14 MP

      Olympus SZ-12
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      1/2.3-inch

      14 MP

      Olympus SZ-30MR
      Image cannot be found

      1/2.3-inch

      16 MP

      Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
      Image cannot be found

      1/2.3-inch

      16 MP

      Olympus SZ-11
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      1/2.3-inch

      14 MP

      Kodak Easyshare M5370
      Image cannot be found

      1/2.3-inch

      16 MP

      Kodak M341
      Image cannot be found

      1/2.33-inch

      12 MP

      Canon S95
      Image cannot be found

      1/1.7-inch

      10 MP

      Samsung SL820
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      1/2.33-inch

      12 MP

      Pentax WG-2 GPS
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      1/2.3-inch

      16 MP

      Canon Rebel T5
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      APS-C

      18.0 MP

      Panasonic FH7
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      1/2.33-inch

      16 MP

      Advantage of Olympus SZ-15

      Olympus SZ-15
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      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Olympus SZ-15 over Olympus SZ-16 iHS.

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Olympus SZ-15
      Center Autofocus vs
      Selective Autofocus vs
      Reaches Wider Angle 25 mm vs 23 mm
      Maximum Aperture at Wide End f/3.0 vs f/2.8
      Maximum Aperture at Tele End f/6.9 vs f/5.9
      Lower Min Shutter Speed 4 sec vs 8 sec
      Higher Max Continuous Shooting 1.5 fps vs 10.0 fps
      Manual Exposure Mode vs
      Aperture Priority vs
      Shutter Priority vs
      Center Weighted Metering vs
      Higher Video Resolution 1280 x 720 vs 1920 x 1080
      Built-in GPS vs
      Built-In Wi-Fi vs

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Olympus SZ-15.

      Olympus SZ-12
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      1/2.3-inch

      14 MP

      Olympus SZ-10
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      1/2.3-inch

      14 MP

      Olympus SZ-30MR
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      1/2.3-inch

      16 MP

      Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
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      1/2.3-inch

      16 MP

      Olympus SZ-11
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      1/2.3-inch

      14 MP

      Fujifilm XF1
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      2/3-inch

      12 MP

      Canon R100
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      APS-C

      24.1 MP

      Nikon Z8
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      Full Frame

      45.7 MP

      Fujifilm S1600
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      1/2.3-inch

      12 MP

      Canon R7
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      APS-C

      32.5 MP

      Nikon Z30
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      APS-C

      20.9 MP

      Olympus XZ-1
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      1/1.63-inch

      10 MP

      Common Strengths and Weaknesses

      We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

      STRENGTHS Olympus SZ-16 iHS Olympus SZ-15
        Video Capture
        High Native ISO6,4003,200
        Face Detection
        Image Stabilization
        Built-in Flash
        HDMI Output Type D
        Light226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz)250 g (0.55 lb / 8.82 oz)
        Orientation Sensor
      WEAKNESSES Olympus SZ-16 iHS Olympus SZ-15
        Small Sensor1/2.3-inch1/2.3-inch
        Timelapse Recording
        Few Cross-type Focus Points00
        Screen TypeFixedFixed
        Low Resolution Screen460k dot460k dot
        No Viewfinder
        Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain)1/2000 sec1/2000 sec
        No External Flash Connectivity
        Low Video Resolution1280 x 7201920 x 1080
        No Microphone Input
        No Headphone Output
        No Built-In Bluetooth
        No Environmental Sealing

      Screen

      Screen

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Olympus SZ-15 have 3.0" Fixed screens with 460k dot resolution.

      Sensor

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS features a 16 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor with dimensions of 6.17 x 4.55 mm and a total area of 28.1 mm2. Its native ISO range is 80 - 6,400. Olympus SZ-15 features a 16 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 6.17 x 4.55 mm and a total area of 20.7 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 3,200.

      Photography Features

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS can take pictures up to 4608 x 3456 resolution. Olympus SZ-15 can take pictures up to 4608 x 3456 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 4608 x 3072, 4608 x 2592, 3648 x 2736, 2832 x 2832, 2592 x 1944, 1984 x 1488, 1920 x 1080, 1024 x 768 with 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 aspect ratios.


      Image Stabilization

      The cameras have a built-in [y] image stabilization.

      Connectivity, Battery and Storage

      Built-in GPS on Olympus SZ-15

      Olympus SZ-15 has a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) technology which allows you to automatically tag the location where you took your photos. You can later categorize, organize, and search for photos based on location. This is very useful for travel and outdoor photographers for documenting the locations where images were captured.
        Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in GPS.


      Built-in Wi-Fi on Olympus SZ-15

      Olympus SZ-15 has a built-in Wi-Fi which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
        Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.


      USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

      Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer. Olympus SZ-16 iHS has a Type D HDMI and Olympus SZ-15 has an HDMI connector for video signal output.


      Battery

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS comes with LI-50B battery pack with battery life of 220 shots and Olympus SZ-15 comes with SLB-10A battery pack.


      External Storage Slots

      Cameras have a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

      Other Features

      Shutter

      Shutter speed can go up to 1/2000 sec on Olympus SZ-16 iHS, and up to 1/2000 sec on Olympus SZ-15. Olympus SZ-16 iHS can shoot continuously up to 1.5 fps. Olympus SZ-15 can shoot continuously up to 10.0 fps.


      Flash

      Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 3.50 m on Olympus SZ-15..

      Physical Parameters

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Olympus SZ-15 bodies have the same dimensions of 108 x 70 x 40 mm (4.25 x 2.76 x 1.57"). Olympus SZ-16 iHS weighs 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz) and Olympus SZ-15 weighs 250 g (0.55 lb / 8.82 oz).

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      108 mm

      70 mm

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      108 mm

      70 mm

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      70 mm

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      70 mm

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      40 mm

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      40 mm

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      Size comparisons of Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Olympus SZ-15

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Olympus SZ-15 for Different Types of Photography

      We give scores to the cameras for six types of photography based on their features and specifications. Let us see how suitable they are for each type of photography.

      Landscape Photography

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      POOR
      49
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      AVERAGE
      63
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing

      Sports Photography

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      AVERAGE
      67
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.5 fps
      •   Short Battery Life - 220 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      AVERAGE
      69
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 10.0 fps
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Wildlife Photography

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      AVERAGE
      65
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.5 fps
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 220 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      AVERAGE
      67
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 10.0 fps
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Portrait Photography

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      GOOD
      72
      •   Small Sensor
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      •   Orientation Sensor
      GOOD
      72
      •   Small Sensor
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Street Photography

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      GOOD
      83
      •   Small Sensor
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz)
      GOOD
      84
      •   Small Sensor
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 250 g (0.55 lb / 8.82 oz)

      Travel Photography

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      EXCELLENT
      85
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 220 shots
      EXCELLENT
      89
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 250 g (0.55 lb / 8.82 oz)

      Evaluations

      We evaluate Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Olympus SZ-15 and give them scores of 55 and 59 out of 100 recpectively. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      OVERALL
      55
      OVERALL
      59

      Sensor

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      POOR
      52
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
      •   80 Lowest Native ISO
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      POOR
      47
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO

      Photo

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      AVERAGE
      60
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.5 fps
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      AVERAGE
      61
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 10.0 fps
      •   No External Flash Connectivity

      Video

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      POOR
      43
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
      POOR
      46
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080

      Focusing

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      AVERAGE
      65
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      GOOD
      70
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection

      Screen and Viewfinder

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      POOR
      53
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      POOR
      53
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder

      Connectivity

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      AVERAGE
      60
      •   HDMI Output
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      GOOD
      77
      •   HDMI Output
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   Built-in GPS
      •   Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth

      Battery, Storage and Physical

      Olympus SZ-16 iHS

      Olympus SZ-15

      POOR
      44
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 220 shots
      POOR
      53
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 250 g (0.55 lb / 8.82 oz)


      For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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