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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-3
Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Here is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-12, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Olympus. The resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and SZ-12 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-5 was brought out 11 months prior to the SZ-12 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-5 matches up against the SZ-12 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus SZ-12

 E-5 SZ-12 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus E-5

 SZ-12 E-5 
LaunchedJanuary 2012February 2011Fresher by 11 months

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus SZ-12

 E-5 SZ-12 
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-5 offers outer dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-12 has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-12 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the E-5 versus the SZ-12.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and SZ-12 is 58 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to envision the gap in sensor sizing only by checking out specs. The graphic below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-5 and SZ-12.

All in all, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-5 because of its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus SZ-12 will show more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics way more aggressively. The older E-5 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
33
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography details
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography details
71
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography information
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography information
59
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography information
Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography information
56
environment proofing
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
65
lighter than competitors (226g)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography details
Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography details
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
40
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery life (220 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging highlights
Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging highlights
64
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
does have mic jack
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
31
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Olympus SZ-12
 Olympus E-5Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-5 Olympus SZ-12
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-02-03 2012-01-10
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1700s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 gr (1.76 pounds) 226 gr (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 photos 220 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Two One
Cost at release $1,700 $350