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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 III
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
  • Launched January 2012
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Olympus E-M5 II versus Olympus SZ-12, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and SZ-12 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 II was released 3 years later than the SZ-12 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-M5 II 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-M5 II over the Olympus SZ-12

 E-M5 II SZ-12 
LaunchedFebruary 2015January 2012More recent by 38 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 SZ-12 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus SZ-12

 E-M5 II SZ-12 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 II offers exterior measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") and a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-12 has proportions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M5 II versus Olympus SZ-12 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-M5 II vs the SZ-12.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 II and SZ-12 is 80 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements only by checking specs. The visual below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 II and SZ-12.

All in all, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 II featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 II will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The newer E-M5 II will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography highlights
Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography highlights
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
82
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch to focus
weather proofing
good ISO range (25,600)
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
65
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
not so great battery life (310 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography features
Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography features
74
weather proofing
boasts touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery life (310 CIPA)
65
lighter than competition (226g)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
not so great battery life (310 CIPA)
40
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery power (220 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging details
Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging details
82
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone jack
31
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic jack
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus SZ-12
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIOlympus SZ-12
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Olympus SZ-12
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2015-02-06 2012-01-10
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type MOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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 None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 469 gr (1.03 lbs) 226 gr (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 896 not tested
Other
Battery life 310 images 220 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $699 $350