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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-860

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-860 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
  • Introduced January 2012
Olympus TG-860
(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
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • New Model is Olympus TG-870
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-860 Overview

Following is a in depth overview of the Olympus SZ-12 versus Olympus TG-860, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof and both are designed by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the TG-860 (16MP) is relatively close and they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was launched 4 years prior to the TG-860 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SZ-12 matches up vs the TG-860 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus TG-860

 SZ-12 TG-860 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Olympus SZ-12

 TG-860 SZ-12 
RevealedFebruary 2015January 2012More modern by 37 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus TG-860

 SZ-12 TG-860 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-860 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 has external dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Olympus TG-860 has specifications of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 versus Olympus TG-860 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ-12 and the TG-860.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-860 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and TG-860 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-860 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-860 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizes purely by researching specifications. The pic below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and TG-860.

Plainly, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Olympus TG-860 to result in more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-860 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography info
Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography info
33
MP count good (14MP)
includes face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
36
MP count good (16MP)
supports face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography info
Olympus TG-860 Street photography info
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
69
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with Olympus TG-860
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
includes tracking focus
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
49
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography advice
Olympus TG-860 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than competitors (226g)
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
environment sealing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (21mm)
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-860 as a Landscape photography camera
40
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
48
quite wide (21mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
environment sealing
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Olympus TG-860
31
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
lighter than competitors (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone port
33
quite wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-860 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus TG-860
 Olympus SZ-12Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2012-01-10 2015-02-06
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type 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
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone 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 Yes
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 224 grams (0.49 lbs)
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 shots 300 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $350 $279