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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Key Specs

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
Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Revealed January 2013
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both of them are designed by Olympus. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) is very comparable and both cameras boast the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was announced 12 months earlier than the SZ-16 iHS and they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SZ-12 grades vs the SZ-16 iHS in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 SZ-12 SZ-16 iHS 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Olympus SZ-12

 SZ-16 iHS SZ-12 
RevealedJanuary 2013January 2012Newer by 12 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 SZ-12 SZ-16 iHS 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 provides external dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-16 iHS has specifications of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-12 vs the SZ-16 iHS.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and SZ-16 iHS is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to envision the gap in sensor dimensions simply by going through technical specs. The pic below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and SZ-16 iHS.

As you can tell, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Olympus SZ-16 iHS to produce greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
33
good resolution (14MP)
features face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
35
decent MP (16MP)
offers face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography features
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography features
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography info
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography info
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
42
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography features
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography features
65
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (220 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
40
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
41
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery power (220 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic support
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
lighter than average in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS
 Olympus SZ-12Olympus SZ-16 iHS
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-01-10 2013-01-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.0-6.9
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 226 gr (0.50 pounds)
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 All around 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 220 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $350 $230