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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-15 Key Specs

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
Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Revealed June 2013
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus SZ-15, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and they are both designed by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the SZ-15 (16MP) is relatively similar and both cameras have the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was revealed 17 months earlier than the SZ-15 which makes them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SZ-12 grades versus the SZ-15 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus SZ-15

 SZ-12 SZ-15 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus SZ-12

 SZ-15 SZ-12 
RevealedJune 2013January 2012Fresher by 17 months
Manual focus More exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus SZ-15

 SZ-12 SZ-15 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 comes with outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-15 has dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus SZ-15 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the SZ-15.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and SZ-15 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing only by reviewing specs. The visual here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and SZ-15.

As you can plainly see, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should count on the Olympus SZ-15 to offer you greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The older SZ-12 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography highlights
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
44
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Olympus SZ-15
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (250g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography highlights
Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography highlights
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
53
great zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography information
Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography information
65
lighter than others (226g)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than others in class (250 grams)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography info
Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography info
40
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery power (220 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
49
you can focus manually
decently wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging features
Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging features
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than others (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone port
34
decently wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (250g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of external mic support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus SZ-15
 Olympus SZ-12Olympus SZ-15
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Olympus SZ-15
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-01-10 2013-06-21
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 23-483mm (21.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 250g (0.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
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 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $350 $200