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Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
68
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44
Nikon Coolpix B500 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Nikon B500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-900mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 541g - 114 x 78 x 95mm
  • Revealed February 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
  • Introduced January 2012
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Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Nikon B500 and Olympus SZ-12, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Nikon and Olympus. The image resolution of the B500 (16MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is relatively similar and both cameras offer the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The B500 was released 4 years later than the SZ-12 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Nikon B500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the B500 grades vs the SZ-12 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon B500 over the Olympus SZ-12

 B500 SZ-12 
IntroducedFebruary 2016January 2012Fresher by 51 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Nikon B500

 SZ-12 B500 

Common features in the Nikon B500 and Olympus SZ-12

 B500 SZ-12 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon B500 provides exterior measurements of 114mm x 78mm x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 541 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-12 has measurements 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 Nikon B500 and Olympus SZ-12 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the B500 against the SZ-12.

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the B500 and SZ-12 is 68 and 89 respectively.

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading specifications. The visual here might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the B500 and SZ-12.

To sum up, both cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should count on the Nikon B500 to deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The newer B500 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon B500 Portrait photography advice
Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography advice
37
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
34
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has face detect focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
52
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than competition (541g)
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon B500 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
51
excellent zoom range (23-900mm 39.1 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
good battery life (600 per charge)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
has tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon B500 Travel photography factors
Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography factors
59
good battery life (600 CIPA)
supports bluetooth
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (23mm)
long reach (900mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (541g)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
65
lighter than average (226g)
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon B500 Landscape photography information
Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography information
45
fairly wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
good battery life (600 per charge)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
40
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery power (220 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon B500 Vlogging info
Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging info
27
fairly wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly display
missing microphone port
more heavy than competition (541 grams)
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
lighter than average (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic jack
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Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon B500 and Olympus SZ-12
 Nikon Coolpix B500Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Company Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon Coolpix B500 Olympus SZ-12
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2016-02-23 2012-01-10
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-900mm (39.1x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 921k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1700s
Continuous shooting speed 7.4fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) -
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 541g (1.19 lbs) 226g (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 78 x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") 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 600 shots 220 shots
Form of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $300 $350