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Canon SD960 IS vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
27
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD960 IS front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37

Canon SD960 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Canon SD960 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 145g - 98 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Also Known as Digital IXUS 110 IS
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
  • Revealed January 2012
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Canon SD960 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Canon SD960 IS and Olympus SZ-12, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the SD960 IS (12MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is very close and they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SD960 IS was launched 3 years prior to the SZ-12 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the SD960 IS grades against the SZ-12 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD960 IS over the Olympus SZ-12

 SD960 IS SZ-12 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Canon SD960 IS

 SZ-12 SD960 IS 
RevealedJanuary 2012February 2009More modern by 35 months
Display dimension3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD960 IS and Olympus SZ-12

 SD960 IS SZ-12 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Canon SD960 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SD960 IS enjoys outside dimensions of 98mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-12 has sizing of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Canon SD960 IS and Olympus SZ-12 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the SD960 IS and the SZ-12.

Canon SD960 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD960 IS and SZ-12 is 95 and 89 respectively.

Canon SD960 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD960 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizes purely by researching specifications. The image below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SD960 IS and SZ-12.

Plainly, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus SZ-12 to result in more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SD960 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon SD960 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Canon SD960 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD960 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD960 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
26
features face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
34
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Street photography info
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography info
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD960 IS as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Travel photography advice
Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography advice
58
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
65
lighter than average (226 grams)
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery (220 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD960 IS Landscape photography advice
Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography advice
37
pretty wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (2.8 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
40
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
low battery (220 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD960 IS as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
31
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than average (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
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Canon SD960 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD960 IS and Olympus SZ-12
 Canon PowerShot SD960 ISOlympus SZ-12
General Information
Brand Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SD960 IS Olympus SZ-12
Also called as Digital IXUS 110 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-02-18 2012-01-10
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 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 -
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.8 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance 2cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.8 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1700s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 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 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 145 gr (0.32 pounds) 226 gr (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 98 x 54 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-4L LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail price - $350