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Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched February 2011
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Released April 2009
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Olympus SZ-10 versus Panasonic FS12, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the FS12 (12MP) is very comparable and they come with the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-10 was released 23 months after the FS12 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SZ-10 grades vs the FS12 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Panasonic FS12

 SZ-10 FS12 
ReleasedFebruary 2011April 2009Newer by 23 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus SZ-10

 FS12 SZ-10 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Panasonic FS12

 SZ-10 FS12 
Manually focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-10 enjoys exterior dimensions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Panasonic FS12 has sizing of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-10 versus Panasonic FS12 in our newest 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 choose at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-10 and the FS12.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-10 and FS12 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor dimensions merely by going through technical specs. The image here will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-10 and FS12.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Olympus SZ-10 to produce greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The younger SZ-10 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography info
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
comes with face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
20
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Street photography advice
Panasonic FS12 Street photography advice
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (215 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-10
Sports photography with Panasonic FS12
40
long zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FS12 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competition (215g)
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
long reach (504mm)
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery (220 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-10
Landscape photography with Panasonic FS12
40
pretty wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery (220 shots)
no Timelapse mode
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FS12 Vlogging factors
31
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than competition (215 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone port
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
no external mic support
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus SZ-10Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-10 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Launched 2011-02-08 2009-04-17
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-504mm (18.0x) 31-124mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-4.4 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.10 m 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 215g (0.47 lb) 129g (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $300 $228