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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SH-3

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SH-3 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
  • Released January 2012
Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus SH-2
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SH-3 Overview

Below is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus SH-3, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and they are both designed by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the SH-3 (16MP) is relatively close and they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was revealed 5 years prior to the SH-3 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the SZ-12 grades versus the SH-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus SH-3

 SZ-12 SH-3 

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Olympus SZ-12

 SH-3 SZ-12 
ReleasedFebruary 2016January 2012More recent by 49 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus SH-3

 SZ-12 SH-3 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SH-3 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 has 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) and the Olympus SH-3 has dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus SH-3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-12 and the SH-3.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SH-3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and SH-3 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SH-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SH-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements simply by looking through specs. The graphic underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and SH-3.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Olympus SH-3 to result in more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older SZ-12 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SH-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography factors
Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography factors
33
good megapixels (14MP)
comes with face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
44
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography highlights
Olympus SH-3 Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
has focus by touch
lighter than others (271g)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography info
Olympus SH-3 Sports photography info
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
great battery pack (380 per charge)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SH-3 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition (226g)
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
74
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
lighter than others (271 grams)
has focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography advice
Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography advice
40
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery pack (220 shots)
no Time Lapse function
55
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (380 shots)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Olympus SH-3
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than competition (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic port
35
rather wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than others (271 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus SH-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus SH-3
 Olympus SZ-12Olympus Stylus SH-3
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus SZ-12 Olympus Stylus SH-3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-01-10 2016-02-08
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD BSI-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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 11.5 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 271g (0.60 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 380 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots One One
Launch price $350 $579