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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released September 2012
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
  • Announced January 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SZ-12, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and SZ-12 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was manufactured 9 months after the SZ-12 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-PL5 scores against the SZ-12 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus SZ-12

 E-PL5 SZ-12 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012January 2012More modern by 9 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus E-PL5

 SZ-12 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SZ-12

 E-PL5 SZ-12 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 has outside dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and 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).

Check out the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SZ-12 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL5 against the SZ-12.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and SZ-12 is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes just by reviewing specifications. The image underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and SZ-12.

Plainly, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL5 due to its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-PL5 will offer greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos far more aggressively. The younger E-PL5 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography info
Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography info
71
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
33
decent MP (14 megapixels)
features face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
85
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect autofocus
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
75
supports touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse mode
65
lighter than competition (226g)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
40
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery life (220 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
31
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
lighter than competition (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SZ-12
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus SZ-12
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-09-17 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 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1700s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) -
Flash options 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 synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325g (0.72 lb) 226g (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots 220 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 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 One One
Launch pricing $400 $350