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Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
82
Imaging
53
Features
73
Overall
61
Olympus OM-D E-M10 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 119 x 82 x 46mm
  • Announced March 2014
  • Successor is Olympus E-M10 II
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 E-M10 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Below is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus E-M10 and Olympus SZ-12, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are created by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-M10 (16MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the E-M10 (Four Thirds) and SZ-12 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-M10 was introduced 2 years later than the SZ-12 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M10 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-M10 matches up versus the SZ-12 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 over the Olympus SZ-12

 E-M10 SZ-12 
ReleasedMarch 2014January 2012More recent by 27 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus E-M10

 SZ-12 E-M10 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 and Olympus SZ-12

 E-M10 SZ-12 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M10 provides exterior measurements of 119mm x 82mm x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") having a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-12 has proportions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M10 and Olympus SZ-12 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the E-M10 vs the SZ-12.

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M10 and SZ-12 is 82 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements just by checking specifications. The photograph below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M10 and SZ-12.

Plainly, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M10 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-M10 will give more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The younger E-M10 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Portrait photography info
Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography info
71
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
33
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
77
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
more heavy than competition (396 grams)
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Sports photography highlights
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography highlights
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
40
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Travel photography information
Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography information
67
includes focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
more heavy than competition (396 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
lighter than others (226g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Landscape photography advice
Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography advice
79
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
40
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
33
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
more heavy than competition (396 grams)
31
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
lighter than others (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 and Olympus SZ-12
 Olympus OM-D E-M10Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 Olympus SZ-12
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2014-03-18 2012-01-10
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.80 m (ISO100) -
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual(1/1(FULL)~1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 396 gr (0.87 lbs) 226 gr (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 119 x 82 x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 884 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photographs 220 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec.,custom (Waiting time 1-30sec.,Shooting interval 0.5/1/2/3sec.,Number of shots 1-10)) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $600 $350