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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P2
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
  • Introduced January 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-12, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and SZ-12 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P1 was announced 3 years prior to the SZ-12 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-P1 matches up vs the SZ-12 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus SZ-12

 E-P1 SZ-12 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus E-P1

 SZ-12 E-P1 
IntroducedJanuary 2012July 2009Newer by 29 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus SZ-12

 E-P1 SZ-12 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-P1 has outer measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-12 has specifications of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-12 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P1 compared to the SZ-12.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and SZ-12 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by checking out specs. The pic underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P1 and SZ-12.

As you can plainly see, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-P1 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh simpler and the Olympus SZ-12 will show more detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography features
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography features
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography features
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography features
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery life (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography info
Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography info
43
no Timelapse mode
low battery life (300 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
lighter than competitors (226g)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low battery life (220 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
60
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery life (300 shots)
no Timelapse mode
40
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery life (220 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging highlights
Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging highlights
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone port
31
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Olympus SZ-12
 Olympus PEN E-P1Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus SZ-12
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-07-29 2012-01-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 355 grams (0.78 lb) 226 grams (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 220 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $182 $350