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Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
14
Overall
25
Olympus FE-45 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Olympus FE-45
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-108mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 62 x 23mm
  • Launched January 2009
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
  • Released January 2012
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Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Following is a thorough review of the Olympus FE-45 versus Olympus SZ-12, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are designed by Olympus. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the FE-45 (10MP) and SZ-12 (14MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FE-45 was announced 4 years before the SZ-12 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summary of how the FE-45 scores against the SZ-12 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus FE-45 over the Olympus SZ-12

 FE-45 SZ-12 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus FE-45

 SZ-12 FE-45 
ReleasedJanuary 2012January 2009More modern by 36 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-45 and Olympus SZ-12

 FE-45 SZ-12 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus FE-45 has got external measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-12 has sizing of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Compare the Olympus FE-45 versus Olympus SZ-12 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the FE-45 vs the SZ-12.

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the FE-45 and SZ-12 is 95 and 89 respectively.

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizes simply by looking at specs. The picture underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the FE-45 and SZ-12.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Olympus SZ-12 to give extra detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged FE-45 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Portrait photography information
Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography information
19
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
34
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus FE-45
Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
56
has image stabilization (Digital)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Sports photography factors
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography factors
26
has image stabilization (Digital)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14MP)
provides tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus FE-45
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
65
lighter than others (226 grams)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus FE-45
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
27
has image stabilization (Digital)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
manual exposure not possible
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
40
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery power (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Vlogging information
Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging information
25
has image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of mic support
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than others (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic port
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Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-45 and Olympus SZ-12
 Olympus FE-45Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus FE-45 Olympus SZ-12
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-01-07 2012-01-10
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 -
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 64 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-108mm (3.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG 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 142 grams (0.31 pounds) 226 grams (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $130 $350