Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus SZ-12
95 Imaging
34 Features
20 Overall
28
89 Imaging
37 Features
36 Overall
36
Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 64 - 1600
- 640 x 480 video
- 24-120mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
- 137g - 93 x 56 x 25mm
- Introduced July 2009
- Also referred to as X-935
(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
- Announced January 2012
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Following is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus FE-5020 versus Olympus SZ-12, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both built by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the FE-5020 (12MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is pretty similar and both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banThe FE-5020 was manufactured 3 years prior to the SZ-12 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).
Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the FE-5020 matches up vs the SZ-12 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
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Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus FE-5020 and Olympus SZ-12. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus FE-5020 Gallery and Olympus SZ-12 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5020 over the Olympus SZ-12
| FE-5020 | SZ-12 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus FE-5020
| SZ-12 | FE-5020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Announced | January 2012 | July 2009 | More modern by 30 months | |
| Screen dimensions | 3" | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") | |
| Screen resolution | 460k | 230k | Clearer screen (+230k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus FE-5020 and Olympus SZ-12
| FE-5020 | SZ-12 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manually focus | No manual focus | |||
| Screen type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed screen | |
| Selfie screen | Neither offers selfie screen | |||
| Touch screen | Neither offers Touch screen |
Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison
In case you're intending to carry around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus FE-5020 offers outer measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-12 has dimensions 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 Olympus FE-5020 versus Olympus SZ-12 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the FE-5020 versus the SZ-12.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the FE-5020 and SZ-12 is 95 and 89 respectively.
Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it's hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading technical specs. The pic here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-5020 and SZ-12.
As you have seen, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Olympus SZ-12 to offer you extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged FE-5020 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.
Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications
| Olympus FE-5020 | Olympus SZ-12 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Manufacturer | Olympus | Olympus |
| Model | Olympus FE-5020 | Olympus SZ-12 |
| Also referred to as | X-935 | - |
| Category | Small Sensor Compact | Small Sensor Superzoom |
| Introduced | 2009-07-22 | 2012-01-10 |
| Body design | Compact | Compact |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Chip | TruePic III | - |
| Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
| Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
| Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 28.1mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 14 megapixels |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 | - |
| Highest resolution | 3968 x 2976 | 4288 x 3216 |
| Highest native ISO | 1600 | 1600 |
| Minimum native ISO | 64 | 80 |
| RAW data | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focus | ||
| Touch focus | ||
| Continuous autofocus | ||
| Autofocus single | ||
| Tracking autofocus | ||
| Autofocus selectice | ||
| Autofocus center weighted | ||
| Autofocus multi area | ||
| Live view autofocus | ||
| Face detection autofocus | ||
| Contract detection autofocus | ||
| Phase detection autofocus | ||
| Cross focus points | - | - |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount | fixed lens | fixed lens |
| Lens focal range | 24-120mm (5.0x) | 25-600mm (24.0x) |
| Maximal aperture | f/3.3-5.8 | f/3.0-6.9 |
| Macro focus range | 1cm | - |
| Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.8 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Screen size | 2.7" | 3" |
| Screen resolution | 230 thousand dot | 460 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch function | ||
| Screen tech | - | TFT Color LCD |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | None | None |
| Features | ||
| Slowest shutter speed | 4 secs | 4 secs |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/500 secs | 1/1700 secs |
| Continuous shooting speed | - | 1.0 frames per second |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Expose Manually | ||
| Change white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Integrated flash | ||
| Flash range | 4.10 m | - |
| Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in |
| External flash | ||
| AE bracketing | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment metering | ||
| Average metering | ||
| Spot metering | ||
| Partial metering | ||
| AF area metering | ||
| Center weighted metering | ||
| 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 file 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 proof | ||
| Dust proof | ||
| Shock proof | ||
| Crush proof | ||
| Freeze proof | ||
| Weight | 137 gr (0.30 lb) | 226 gr (0.50 lb) |
| Physical dimensions | 93 x 56 x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") | 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 | - | 220 images |
| Battery form | - | Battery Pack |
| Battery model | 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, microSD | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
| Launch price | $160 | $350 |