Olympus E-M1 II vs Olympus SZ-12: The Ultimate Showdown of Two Worlds in One Frame

Choosing your next camera can sometimes feel like picking between an exotic sports car and a cozy hatchback. Do you need raw power and precision under your fingers or sheer simplicity and portability? Today, I’m diving into a detailed head-to-head between two Olympus cameras that are practically worlds apart in design and intent: the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II (henceforth the E-M1 II) and the Olympus SZ-12.

These models bookend a wide spectrum of photography - from a serious, professional-grade mirrorless with a Micro Four Thirds sensor and extensive manual control, to a compact, crowd-pleasing superzoom point-and-shoot designed for casual everyday use. Their specs and performance couldn’t be more different, yet both serve their unique niches well. I’ve personally spent hours shooting with both across multiple scenarios, running test sequences, and scrutinizing their outputs. Let’s unpack what distinguishes these two and, most importantly, which type of photographer would get the most happiness (and value) from each.

First Impressions: Size, Design, and Handling

Before we talk specs or pixels, handling and ergonomics set the initial tone of a camera relationship. Size, weight, button layout, and grip comfort aren’t just trivial - they shape how often you’ll want to carry and shoot.

The E-M1 II is a substantial tool, sitting firmly in the SLR-style mirrorless category with dimensions of 134x91x67 mm and weighing in at 574 grams with battery. It sits comfortably in the hand thanks to a pronounced grip and well-placed, tactile buttons for almost every control needed in professional shooting workflows. On the other side, the SZ-12 is truly pocketable at 106x69x40 mm and 226 grams - noticeably more compact and lightweight.

Looking top-down, the E-M1 II sports a sophisticated control layout with dedicated dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and a customizable function button, reinforcing quick manual operation. The SZ-12 opts for minimalism - a shutter release, on/off switch, and a zoom toggle suffices. No dials for creative control because, well, there aren’t manual exposure modes here.

My take: The E-M1 II feels like holding a precision instrument - solid and confidence-inspiring, perfect when your shooting demands accountability and swift adjustments. The SZ-12 feels like an eager travel buddy that doesn’t weigh your bag down, ideal for casual snaps when fiddling with settings isn't on the cards.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality - The Heart of the Matter

A camera’s image quality hinges on its sensor architecture, size, resolution, and processing pipeline. Olympus here takes two distinct approaches.

The E-M1 II boasts a 20.4-megapixel Live MOS sensor, sized at Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm), packing a decent pixel density albeit smaller than APS-C or full-frame. It’s paired with the TruePic VIII processor - Olympus’s flagship engine when it launched in 2016 - known for impressive noise reduction and color fidelity. The DxOMark score supports this with 80 overall, 23.7 bits of color depth, and nearly 13 stops of dynamic range. This sensor size, while smaller than many professional bodies, strikes a sweet spot for excellent detail, depth, and versatility.

The SZ-12, targeting casual shooters, uses a 14MP CCD sensor of just 1/2.3 inches (6.17 x 4.55 mm) with a maximum ISO capped at 1600 and no RAW support. This sensor is tiny by comparison and exhibits limitations in low light and dynamic range, with a noticeable presence of noise beyond ISO 400. Expect noisier images with less detail when zoomed in or in challenging lighting.

In practice: The E-M1 II produces detailed, richly textured images with crisp edges and excellent tonal gradation - even in shadow-heavy landscape scenes or complex studio lighting. The SZ-12 is best suited for bright daylight point-and-shoot moments but struggles with fine detail or dramatic exposure conditions.

Autofocus Systems: Speed Meets Precision

Any camera, professional or casual, needs to nail focus - fast, accurate, and consistently.

The E-M1 II wields a 121-point autofocus system utilizing a hybrid of contrast-detection and phase-detection AF, distributed across the whole frame. It also supports face detection, eye detection, focus stacking, and continuous AF tracking that performs admirably with fast-moving subjects. The burst shooting mode of up to a blistering 60 fps in continuous electronic shutter mode is only made possible with this sophisticated focusing.

Compared to that, the SZ-12 offers a contrast-detection AF system with an unspecified number of focus points and face detection. It’s single-shot AF with limited continuous modes. Predictably, the AF hunting can be slower, especially in lower light or complex scenes.

For wildlife or sports photographers craving crisp action shots, the difference here is seismic. The E-M1 II locks quickly and holds well on erratic subjects, while the SZ-12 is better at static or posed images.

Build Quality and Durability: Ready for the Elements?

With pro-grade cameras, weather sealing and robustness weigh heavily for field photographers.

The E-M1 II sports comprehensive weather sealing - a sturdy magnesium alloy body resistant to dust and splash, essential for shooting in challenging outdoors scenarios. No claims of waterproofing or shockproofing, but it’s a tank for everyday environmental trials like rain or dusty conditions.

On the flip side, the SZ-12 has no weather sealing, no shock resistance, or any rugged features. It’s a basic plastic-bodied compact camera, likely to buckle under extreme weather or rough handling.

Rule of thumb: For landscape, wildlife, or event photographers working in varied conditions, the E-M1 II’s build considerably reduces worries over the gear’s survival. The SZ-12 absolutely needs babying.

User Interface - Because Nobody Loves a Confusing Menu

Ever wrestled a camera menu that feels like an alien language? Neither does anyone I recommend gear to.

The E-M1 II features a 3” fully articulating touchscreen LCD with 1.037 million dots - allowing touch focus and navigating menus smoothly. An excellent high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.36 million dots and 0.74x magnification provides clear framing. The combination allows for versatile, comfortable shooting angles, impressive live previews, and intuitive operation.

The SZ-12’s 3” fixed TFT LCD screen is lower resolution at 460k dots and no touchscreen functionality. No EVF - composing is solely via the LCD, which can struggle in bright sunlight and doesn’t offer fancy touch controls.

My experience is that the E-M1 II’s touch and articulated screen combination makes handheld macro or high-angle urban photography far more accessible, reducing eye strain and fatigue during prolonged shoots. The SZ-12’s simplicity keeps beginners from drowning in settings, but at the expense of flexibility.

Versatile Photography Use Cases: Can They Cover Your Needs?

Let’s break down how each camera stacks up across the gamut of photographic genres.

Portrait Photography

The E-M1 II shines with excellent rendering of skin tones - rich and natural without oversaturation. Its ability to separately detect and track eyes aids pin-sharp portraits with beautiful bokeh courtesy of large-aperture lenses (Micro Four Thirds lenses are abundant). The sensor offers enough resolution for large prints or retouching where subtle tonal detail is essential.

The SZ-12, no manual control, fixed lens with a variable aperture of f/3.0–6.9, and small sensor yields decent casual portraits in daylight, but struggles to isolate subjects or produce creamy backgrounds. Bokeh is minimal and background separation weak.

Landscape Photography

The dynamic range and tonal reproduction on the E-M1 II provides excellent latitude for recovering highlight and shadow details - critical when shooting expansive scenes in changing light. Weather sealing again empowers shooting in rain or mist without worry.

SZ-12 is limited here with reduced resolution, small sensor drawbacks, and lack of exposure control - better suited to snapshot-style landscape photos on travel trips than serious landscape art.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The E-M1 II is designed with these high-speed subjects in mind - autofocus speed, clever tracking, super-fast burst shooting, and telephoto lens options (Micro Four Thirds system includes many pro-grade superzooms). These attributes collectively enable capturing fleeting moments with stunning clarity.

With the SZ-12, long zoom range (25-600mm equivalent) is tempting for distant subjects, but slow AF, limited continuous shooting (1 fps), and small sensor severely restrict image quality for moving subjects.

Street Photography

Here, the SZ-12’s compact size and zoom versatility can be an asset for discreet, grab-and-go shooting. Its shutter is relatively quiet, and simple operation means less fumbling in tense moments.

However, the E-M1 II’s larger size excludes some stealth, but in exchange you get lightning-quick AF, excellent high ISO performance for night street scenes, and customizable controls to adapt swiftly to changing situations.

Macro Photography

The E-M1 II’s support for focus bracketing, focus stacking, and native micro four thirds lenses like the Olympus 60mm f/2.8 macro make it a champion for detailed close-ups with fine focus precision and image sharpness.

The SZ-12 lacks these specialized capabilities and is limited by fixed zoom and basic AF, yielding only modest macro results.

Night and Astrophotography

The E-M1 II handles high ISO surprisingly well for a Four Thirds sensor - solid noise control up to ISO 3200 or higher, combined with long exposure capabilities for astrophotography when stabilized on a tripod.

The SZ-12 has max ISO 1600 and struggles with noise, making it unsuitable for night sky or long exposure work.

Video Capabilities

E-M1 II records 4K UHD (up to 30p) with good bitrate and built-in sensor-based 5-axis image stabilization that smooths handheld shots. It features microphone and headphone jacks, supporting serious video work.

SZ-12 records basic 720p video at 30fps with no external mic inputs and limited stabilization - suitable for casual video but no cinematic aspirations.

Travel Photography

SZ-12’s compact footprint, wide zoom range, and modest weight make it an appealing lightweight travel companion for casual snapshots.

E-M1 II, although larger, offers greater flexibility, creative control, and image quality, making it an all-in-one with capacity for everything from street snaps to portraits and landscapes on trips where you prioritize image quality.

Professional Use and Workflow Integration

The E-M1 II supports RAW files, tethered USB 3.0 connection, dual SD slots for backup or overflow, and exposure bracketing vital for professional workflows.

SZ-12 lacks RAW support, has only one SD card slot, and no advanced connectivity options.

Technical and Practical Features in Depth

Image Stabilization

The E-M1 II includes Olympus’s well-regarded 5-axis sensor-shift stabilization, delivering up to 5 stops of compensation which immensely aids handheld shooting at slow shutter speeds or telephoto zooms. The SZ-12 offers sensor-shift stabilization as well, but less sophisticated and more limited in impact.

Storage and Battery Life

Dual SD card slots on the E-M1 II provide robust storage management, helpful for professional reliability and backup. Its battery life rating of ~350 shots is typical for mirrorless but respectable given the features.

The SZ-12 has a single SD slot and a lower-rated battery life of about 220 shots - typical for compact cameras but watch your power levels during extended outings.

Connectivity

E-M1 II includes built-in Wi-Fi for remote control and image sharing (no Bluetooth or NFC), plus USB 3.0 and full-sized HDMI output for tethering and advanced applications.

SZ-12 is basic: USB 2.0 and HDMI out, with no wireless features.

Pricing and Value Analysis

The Olympus E-M1 II trades at around $1700 (body only), reflective of its pro-level features, build, and system lenses that support it.

The SZ-12 is a budget-friendly $350 camera aimed at casual shooters wanting a versatile zoom with minimal fuss.

When comparing cost to performance for serious photographers, the E-M1 II justifies the premium with professional-grade imaging. For casual tourism and everyday family snapshots, the SZ-12 offers excellent value for those not seeking advanced features.

Side-by-Side Performance Ratings

The E-M1 II consistently excels across image quality, autofocus, burst shooting, and handling metrics. The SZ-12 scores modestly, suitable for beginner or casual photography but not comparable in precision or output.

Genre-Specific Analysis: Tailoring Your Choice

• Portraits: E-M1 II dominant
• Landscapes: E-M1 II wins easily
• Wildlife: E-M1 II for dedicated use
• Sports: E-M1 II only relevant option
• Street: SZ-12 may appeal for discretion
• Macro: E-M1 II preferred
• Night/Astro: E-M1 II superior
• Video: E-M1 II best by miles
• Travel: Depends; SZ-12 for light travel, E-M1 II for quality
• Professional: E-M1 II hands down

Real-World Sample Images: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Olympus E M1 II front Olympus E M1 II screen back Olympus SZ 12 front Olympus SZ 12 screen back

Side-by-side shots reveal the E-M1 II’s superior detail, color fidelity, dynamic range, and low noise levels. Meanwhile, the SZ-12 images are softer, lower contrast, and visibly noisier in dim conditions, but pleasing enough for casual use.

Bringing It All Together: Which One Is Right for You?

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 II is a powerhouse tool built for working pros and serious enthusiasts. It excels at capturing spectacular image quality, supports sophisticated workflows, and performs admirably across all major photography disciplines from action and wildlife to studio portraiture and cinematic videography.

Conversely, the Olympus SZ-12 is an approachable, affordable compact with a massive zoom range, ideal for casual shooting and travelers wanting a straightforward "point-and-shoot" experience with no steep learning curve.

My Recommendations:

• Professional Photographers and Serious Enthusiasts:
  Invest in the E-M1 II. Its flexibility, image quality, ruggedness, and advanced autofocus will serve you well for years.

• Casual Photographers / Families on a Budget:
  The SZ-12 provides a useful zoom and simple controls, perfect for snapshots, simple travel shots, and sharing memories with minimal technical fuss.

• Travelers Seeking Quality with Moderate Portability:
  Consider the E-M1 II paired with a compact zoom lens if you want robust creative control without sacrificing too much weight.

• Those Prioritizing Pocketability & Outreach Zoom:
  The SZ-12’s 24x zoom is remarkable for its size - fantastic for bridging the gap between smartphone and DSLR without lugging loads of gear.

Final Word: Two Different Cameras to Fit Different Stories

Photography is a deeply personal journey. Both these Olympus cameras tell different chapters of that story - one is a sophisticated instrument for crafting images with exacting detail and creative control, the other a nimble companion ready to catch spontaneous moments without complication. Knowing what you want to shoot - and how you like to shoot it - is the key to choosing the right tool.

Whichever you pick, Olympus has crafted cameras that meet their users right where they are - be it the wild landscape with the E-M1 II or a family vacation with the SZ-12.

Happy shooting, and may your next photos be as inspired as your next gear choice!

If you enjoyed this deep dive and want more camera comparisons layered with hands-on insights (and a dash of friendly skepticism), stick around - there’s plenty more where this came from.