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Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28
Olympus FE-5010 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5010
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-180mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 130g - 96 x 57 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2009
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
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus FE-5010 and Olympus SZ-12, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are built by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the FE-5010 (12MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is very similar and they feature the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FE-5010 was brought out 4 years prior to the SZ-12 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a short highlight of how the FE-5010 matches up versus the SZ-12 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5010 over the Olympus SZ-12

 FE-5010 SZ-12 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus FE-5010

 SZ-12 FE-5010 
IntroducedJanuary 2012January 2009Fresher by 36 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-5010 and Olympus SZ-12

 FE-5010 SZ-12 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus FE-5010 has got exterior dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 130 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-12 has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus FE-5010 and Olympus SZ-12 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the FE-5010 compared to the SZ-12.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the FE-5010 and SZ-12 is 96 and 89 respectively.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing merely by reviewing technical specs. The graphic here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FE-5010 and SZ-12.

As you have seen, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus SZ-12 to offer more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older FE-5010 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus FE-5010
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
20
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
33
MP count good (14MP)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Street photography factors
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lighter than competition in class (130g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Sports photography advice
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography advice
33
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
60
lighter than competition in class (130g)
weather proofing
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
65
lighter than competition (226g)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
31
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
40
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
28
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (130g)
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic port
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than competition (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone port
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Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5010 and Olympus SZ-12
 Olympus FE-5010Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus FE-5010 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 measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 64 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-180mm (5.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.6 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1700s
Continuous shutter speed - 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 130 grams (0.29 pounds) 226 grams (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") 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 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B LI-50B
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media xD-Picture Card (1GB, 2GB), microSD (MASD-1 is required) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at release $130 $350