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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Launched November 2003
  • Later Model is Olympus E-3
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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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-1 versus Olympus SZ-12, former is a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Olympus. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and SZ-12 (14MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and SZ-12 (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-1 was brought out 9 years before the SZ-12 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-1 matches up against the SZ-12 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Olympus SZ-12

 E-1 SZ-12 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus E-1

 SZ-12 E-1 
IntroducedJanuary 2012November 2003Newer by 98 months
Screen size3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution460k134kCrisper screen (+326k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Olympus SZ-12

 E-1 SZ-12 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-1 offers physical measurements of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) and 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).

Check out the Olympus E-1 versus Olympus SZ-12 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-1 against the SZ-12.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and SZ-12 is 59 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specs. The pic below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-1 and SZ-12.

All in all, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-1 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Olympus SZ-12 will deliver more detail having its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged E-1 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-1
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
46
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no liveview
low MP (5 megapixels)
33
MP count decent (14MP)
provides face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-1
Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
57
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proof
lighter than competition in class (735g)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-1
Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
40
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (5MP)
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-1
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
47
lighter than competition in class (735g)
weather proof
lack of Time Lapse recording
low MP (5MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (220 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
46
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proof
tiny screen (1.8")
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
low MP (5 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic port
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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Olympus SZ-12
 Olympus E-1Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-1 Olympus SZ-12
Class Pro DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2003-11-29 2012-01-10
Body design Large SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 5 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Max resolution 2560 x 1920 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 3 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 1.8 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 134 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1700s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 735 gr (1.62 lbs) 226 gr (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 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 - 220 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $1,700 $350