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Canon A3500 IS vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot A3500 IS front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Canon A3500 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Canon A3500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 135g - 98 x 56 x 20mm
  • Announced January 2013
Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Canon A3500 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Canon A3500 IS and Olympus SZ-12, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the A3500 IS (16MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is very comparable and both cameras provide the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The A3500 IS was revealed 13 months later than the SZ-12 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the A3500 IS matches up versus the SZ-12 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3500 IS over the Olympus SZ-12

 A3500 IS SZ-12 
LaunchedJanuary 2013January 2012Fresher by 13 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Canon A3500 IS

 SZ-12 A3500 IS 
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon A3500 IS and Olympus SZ-12

 A3500 IS SZ-12 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Canon A3500 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon A3500 IS enjoys exterior dimensions of 98mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-12 has proportions 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 A3500 IS and Olympus SZ-12 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the A3500 IS compared to the SZ-12.

Canon A3500 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A3500 IS and SZ-12 is 96 and 89 respectively.

Canon A3500 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing only by going through specs. The graphic below might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A3500 IS and SZ-12.

All in all, both cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You should expect to see the Canon A3500 IS to produce extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The newer A3500 IS should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon A3500 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3500 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon A3500 IS
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
34
decent megapixels (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
33
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Street photography info
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography info
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
lighter than competitors in class (135 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Sports photography information
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography information
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
provides tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3500 IS as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competitors in class (135 grams)
features focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
no Timelapse recording
low battery pack (200 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
65
lighter than others (226g)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery (220 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Landscape photography info
Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography info
41
pretty wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery pack (200 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery (220 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Vlogging info
Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging info
34
pretty wide (28mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (135 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone jack
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than others (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
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Canon A3500 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3500 IS and Olympus SZ-12
 Canon PowerShot A3500 ISOlympus SZ-12
General Information
Brand Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot A3500 IS Olympus SZ-12
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-01-07 2012-01-10
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 4 -
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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1700s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 135 grams (0.30 lbs) 226 grams (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 56 x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 200 shots 220 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-11L LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $115 $350