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Canon SX240 HS vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Canon SX240 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Canon SX240 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 224g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Older Model is Canon SX230 HS
  • Updated by Canon SX260 HS
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 SX240 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

In this write-up, we will be matching up the Canon SX240 HS versus Olympus SZ-12, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the SX240 HS (12MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is relatively well matched and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX240 HS was launched about the same time to the SZ-12 so they are of a similar age. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SX240 HS grades vs the SZ-12 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX240 HS over the Olympus SZ-12

 SX240 HS SZ-12 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen resolution461k460kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Canon SX240 HS

 SZ-12 SX240 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX240 HS and Olympus SZ-12

 SX240 HS SZ-12 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012January 2012Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Canon SX240 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SX240 HS comes with outside measurements of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-12 has proportions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX240 HS versus Olympus SZ-12 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the SX240 HS compared to the SZ-12.

Canon SX240 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SX240 HS and SZ-12 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Canon SX240 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX240 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes simply by looking at a spec sheet. The image below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX240 HS and SZ-12.

As you can see, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Olympus SZ-12 to resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively.

Canon SX240 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Canon SX240 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX240 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX240 HS
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
37
manual focus
has face detection focus
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
comes with face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX240 HS as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (224g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Sports photography features
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography features
36
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX240 HS
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
61
lighter than others in class (224 grams)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery life (230 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
65
lighter than competition (226g)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse function
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Landscape photography features
Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography features
41
manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery life (230 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery power (220 shots)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX240 HS as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (224g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone port
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than competition (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone support
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Canon SX240 HS vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX240 HS and Olympus SZ-12
 Canon PowerShot SX240 HSOlympus SZ-12
General Information
Brand Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SX240 HS Olympus SZ-12
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-02-07 2012-01-10
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 5 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech PureColor II TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 224 gr (0.49 pounds) 226 gr (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 61 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 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 230 pictures 220 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $0 $350