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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-850 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 TG-850 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 218g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Released January 2014
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof and both are produced by Olympus. The image resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the TG-850 iHS (16MP) is pretty well matched and they enjoy the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 3 years before the TG-850 iHS and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SZ-12 scores vs the TG-850 iHS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 SZ-12 TG-850 iHS 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Olympus SZ-12

 TG-850 iHS SZ-12 
ReleasedJanuary 2014January 2012More recent by 25 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus TG-850 iHS

 SZ-12 TG-850 iHS 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 offers exterior 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 TG-850 iHS has specifications of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the SZ-12 vs the TG-850 iHS.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and TG-850 iHS is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements simply by looking at technical specs. The photograph here will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and TG-850 iHS.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Olympus TG-850 iHS to give more detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The older SZ-12 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
34
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
35
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography highlights
Olympus TG-850 iHS Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
69
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography advice
Olympus TG-850 iHS Sports photography advice
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
no phase detect AF
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
better than average battery life (330 CIPA)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Olympus TG-850 iHS
65
lighter than average in class (226g)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
72
better than average battery life (330 shots)
weather proof
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (21mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus TG-850 iHS Landscape photography highlights
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
50
rather wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
weather proof
better than average battery life (330 shots)
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Vlogging camera
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
33
rather wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus TG-850 iHS
 Olympus SZ-12Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2012-01-10 2014-01-29
Physical type 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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4616 x 3464
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
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) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.7
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 1/2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Yes
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 218g (0.48 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
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 photos 330 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $350 $250