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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-870 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
  • Released January 2012
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus TG-860
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

Following is a detailed overview of the Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-870, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact and both of them are designed by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the TG-870 (16MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras provide the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was brought out 5 years prior to the TG-870 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the SZ-12 scores against the TG-870 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus TG-870

 SZ-12 TG-870 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus SZ-12

 TG-870 SZ-12 
RevealedJanuary 2016January 2012More modern by 48 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus TG-870

 SZ-12 TG-870 
Manual focus No manual focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 comes with external measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Olympus TG-870 has specifications of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-870 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the TG-870.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and TG-870 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading through technical specs. The image underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and TG-870.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Olympus TG-870 to resolve more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography advice
Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography advice
33
good MP (14MP)
provides face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
36
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Olympus TG-870
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
65
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than competitors (221g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography details
Olympus TG-870 Sports photography details
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery (300 CIPA)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography factors
Olympus TG-870 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
69
better than average battery (300 per charge)
environment sealing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (21mm)
more heavy than competitors (221g)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-870
40
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
50
quite wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
better than average battery (300 per charge)
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging details
Olympus TG-870 Vlogging details
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
32
quite wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone support
more heavy than competitors (221g)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus TG-870
 Olympus SZ-12Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2012-01-10 2016-01-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD BSI-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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Maximum boosted ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 221g (0.49 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
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 images 300 images
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 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $350 $280