Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus 5010

Here is a in-depth review of the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus 5010, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact and both are sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the 5010 (14MP) is very comparable and both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ-12 was announced 2 years later than the 5010 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Olympus 5010 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple summation of how the SZ-12 matches up vs the 5010 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SZ-12 & Olympus Stylus 5010. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery & Olympus 5010 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 enjoys exterior measurements 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 5010 has measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus 5010 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-12 and the 5010.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and 5010 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Often, it is very tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizing merely by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and 5010.

Clearly, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same exact MP and you can expect comparable quality of photos but you might want to take the launch date of the cameras into account. The more recent SZ-12 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.