Casio EX-S12 vs Panasonic SZ3
96 Imaging
34 Features
21 Overall
28


96 Imaging
39 Features
29 Overall
35
Casio EX-S12 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 1600
- 1280 x 720 video
- 36-108mm (F2.8-7.9) lens
- 111g - 95 x 60 x 23mm
- Launched January 2009
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
- 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
- Introduced January 2013

Casio EX-S12 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview
Below is a in depth analysis of the Casio EX-S12 versus Panasonic SZ3, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Casio and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the EX-S12 (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

The EX-S12 was announced 5 years prior to the SZ3 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).
Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a quick view of how the EX-S12 matches up versus the SZ3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Casio EX-S12 vs Panasonic SZ3 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery images for Casio Exilim EX-S12 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3. The whole galleries are viewable at Casio EX-S12 Gallery & Panasonic SZ3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Casio EX-S12 over the Panasonic SZ3
EX-S12 | SZ3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Very precise focus |
Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Casio EX-S12
SZ3 | EX-S12 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | January 2013 | ![]() | January 2009 | More recent by 48 months |
Common features in the Casio EX-S12 and Panasonic SZ3
EX-S12 | SZ3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen sizing | 2.7" | ![]() | 2.7" | Equivalent screen measurement |
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Exact same screen resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither offers selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Lacking Touch friendly screen |
Casio EX-S12 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Casio EX-S12 offers physical dimensions of 95mm x 60mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") along with a weight of 111 grams (0.24 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has sizing of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).
Take a look at the Casio EX-S12 versus Panasonic SZ3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the EX-S12 vs the SZ3.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the EX-S12 and SZ3 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Casio EX-S12 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, its hard to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading through specs. The visual below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the EX-S12 and SZ3.
All in all, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Panasonic SZ3 to give extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older EX-S12 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Casio EX-S12 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Casio EX-S12 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications
Casio Exilim EX-S12 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Casio | Panasonic |
Model | Casio Exilim EX-S12 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 |
Type | Small Sensor Compact | Small Sensor Compact |
Launched | 2009-01-08 | 2013-01-07 |
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 | 6.08 x 4.56mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 27.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | - |
Highest resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4608 x 3456 |
Highest native ISO | 1600 | 6400 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW photos | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | - | 23 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | 36-108mm (3.0x) | 25-250mm (10.0x) |
Highest aperture | f/2.8-7.9 | f/3.1-5.9 |
Macro focus range | - | 5cm |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 2.7" | 2.7" |
Resolution of display | 230 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Display tech | - | TFT LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 1/2 secs | 60 secs |
Highest shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/1600 secs |
Continuous shooting speed | - | 1.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | - | 4.10 m |
Flash settings | - | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (15 fps) | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
Video format | Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 111 grams (0.24 pounds) | 126 grams (0.28 pounds) |
Dimensions | 95 x 60 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") | 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") |
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 | - | 250 images |
Battery form | - | Battery Pack |
Battery model | NP-60 | - |
Self timer | Yes (10 seconds, 2 seconds, Triple Self-timer) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/ SDHC memory card, Internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Cost at launch | $119 | $150 |