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Canon A2100 IS vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28
Canon PowerShot A2100 IS front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Canon A2100 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Canon A2100 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-216mm (F3.2-5.9) lens
  • 185g - 102 x 64 x 32mm
  • Announced February 2009
Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Canon A2100 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Here is a complete analysis of the Canon A2100 IS vs Olympus SZ-12, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the A2100 IS (12MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A2100 IS was brought out 3 years earlier than the SZ-12 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the A2100 IS matches up against the SZ-12 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A2100 IS over the Olympus SZ-12

 A2100 IS SZ-12 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Canon A2100 IS

 SZ-12 A2100 IS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012February 2009Fresher by 35 months
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon A2100 IS and Olympus SZ-12

 A2100 IS SZ-12 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Canon A2100 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon A2100 IS has outside measurements of 102mm x 64mm x 32mm (4.0" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-12 has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Canon A2100 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the A2100 IS versus the SZ-12.

Canon A2100 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the A2100 IS and SZ-12 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Canon A2100 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Canon A2100 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizing purely by going through a spec sheet. The visual below will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A2100 IS and SZ-12.

Clearly, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Olympus SZ-12 to show greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The older A2100 IS will be behind in sensor technology.

Canon A2100 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Canon A2100 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A2100 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Portrait photography info
Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography info
26
has face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
features face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon A2100 IS as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Sports photography information
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography information
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon A2100 IS
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
50
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Landscape photography factors
Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography factors
31
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
lack of manual exposure
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse mode
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
bad battery pack (220 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A2100 IS
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
wide angle not good (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
no microphone jack
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
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Canon A2100 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A2100 IS and Olympus SZ-12
 Canon PowerShot A2100 ISOlympus SZ-12
General Information
Make Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Olympus SZ-12
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-02-18 2012-01-10
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-216mm (6.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.2-5.9 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m -
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 185 gr (0.41 pounds) 226 gr (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 102 x 64 x 32mm (4.0" x 2.5" x 1.3") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 220 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $220 $350