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Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Released October 2013
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-P3
Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus E-P5 versus Olympus SZ-12, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both designed by Olympus. The resolution of the E-P5 (16MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is very similar but the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and SZ-12 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The E-P5 was announced 22 months later than the SZ-12 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-P5 grades versus the SZ-12 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Olympus SZ-12

 E-P5 SZ-12 
ReleasedOctober 2013January 2012Fresher by 22 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus E-P5

 SZ-12 E-P5 

Common features in the Olympus E-P5 and Olympus SZ-12

 E-P5 SZ-12 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P5 comes with exterior dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-12 has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P5 versus Olympus SZ-12 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P5 and the SZ-12.

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P5 and SZ-12 is 85 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading specs. The photograph below will provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P5 and SZ-12.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-P5 with its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-P5 will offer you more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The fresher E-P5 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320 seconds)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
saves RAW formats
33
good megapixels (14MP)
includes face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Street photography details
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography details
78
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
more heavy than average in class (420 grams)
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P5
Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
68
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
lack of phase detect auto focus
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
68
comes with focus via touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
more heavy than average in class (420 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
40
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Vlogging factors
Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging factors
33
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone port
more heavy than average in class (420 grams)
31
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone support
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Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P5 and Olympus SZ-12
 Olympus PEN E-P5Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-P5 Olympus SZ-12
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-10-03 2012-01-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shutter rate 9.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (ISO 100) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 420g (0.93 lb) 226g (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") 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 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 895 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 220 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $389 $350