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Canon SX420 IS vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
80
Imaging
46
Features
34
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX420 IS front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37

Canon SX420 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Canon SX420 IS
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.5-6.6) lens
  • 325g - 104 x 69 x 85mm
  • Launched January 2016
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
  • Revealed January 2012
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Canon SX420 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Below is a in depth comparison of the Canon SX420 IS versus Olympus SZ-12, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Canon and Olympus. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the SX420 IS (20MP) and SZ-12 (14MP) but they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX420 IS was introduced 4 years later than the SZ-12 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX420 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SX420 IS grades against the SZ-12 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX420 IS over the Olympus SZ-12

 SX420 IS SZ-12 
RevealedJanuary 2016January 2012More recent by 49 months
Manually focus More precise focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Canon SX420 IS

 SZ-12 SX420 IS 
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX420 IS and Olympus SZ-12

 SX420 IS SZ-12 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Canon SX420 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Canon SX420 IS enjoys outer dimensions of 104mm x 69mm x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-12 has specifications of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

See the Canon SX420 IS versus Olympus SZ-12 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the SX420 IS compared to the SZ-12.

Canon SX420 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX420 IS and SZ-12 is 80 and 89 respectively.

Canon SX420 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SX420 IS and SZ-12.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Canon SX420 IS to deliver more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern SX420 IS will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Canon SX420 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Canon SX420 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX420 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Portrait photography information
Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography information
44
focusing manually
decent MP (20 megapixels)
features face detection focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
34
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Street photography info
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography info
52
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Sports photography highlights
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography highlights
41
incredible zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
slow frames per second (0.5 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (195 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX420 IS Travel photography advice
Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography advice
61
decent MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (1008mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (195 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
65
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low battery pack (220 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX420 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
47
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
terrible battery pack (195 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
40
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery pack (220 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX420 IS
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
29
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
lighter than competitors (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
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Canon SX420 IS vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX420 IS and Olympus SZ-12
 Canon PowerShot SX420 ISOlympus SZ-12
General Information
Make Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SX420 IS Olympus SZ-12
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-01-05 2012-01-10
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 4+ -
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 20MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 5152 x 3864 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-6.6 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance 0cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1700s
Continuous shutter rate 0.5 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m -
Flash options Auto, flash on, slow synchro, flash off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 grams (0.72 pounds) 226 grams (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 104 x 69 x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") 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 195 photos 220 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-11LH LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $299 $350