LCD and Viewfinder
Panasonic ZS15 has a Fixed Type 3″ LCD screen with a resolution of 460k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.
ZS15 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 (Lumix DC-TZ90) (Compare) or Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 (Lumix DMC-TZ80) (Compare). If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.
Max Shutter speed
Panasonic ZS15 can shoot continuously at max speed of 2 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.
Flash
Unfortunately ZS15 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.
Focusing
Panasonic ZS15 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 23 points to choose from.
Video Features
With Panasonic ZS15, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60 fps and save in MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats. Full HD resolution of Panasonic ZS15 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.
ZS15 has a built-in Mono microphone and a Mono speaker.
Panasonic ZS15 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Olympus XZ-2 iHS or Nikon Coolpix P7000 in a similar price range.
Connectivity and Storage
You can connect ZS15 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.
Battery Panasonic ZS15 is powered by a proprietary battery which provides a shooting life of 260 according to CIPA standards.
Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 255 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.
Battery Life Comparison in Small Sensor Superzoom Cameras
Fujifilm HS35EXR with its 600shots is the model with longest battery life among Small Sensor Superzoom cameras. Check the comparison of Panasonic ZS15 vs Fujifilm HS35EXR or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.
Panasonic ZS15 Features Compared to Main Competitors