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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Olympus TG-820 iHS front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-820 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
  • Announced January 2012
Olympus TG-820 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 206g - 101 x 65 x 26mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Overview

Following is a extensive comparison of the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus TG-820 iHS, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are produced by Olympus. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the TG-820 iHS (12MP) is relatively close and they come with the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was launched about the same time to the TG-820 iHS which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SZ-12 matches up against the TG-820 iHS in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus TG-820 iHS

 SZ-12 TG-820 iHS 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-820 iHS over the Olympus SZ-12

 TG-820 iHS SZ-12 
Screen resolution1030k460kSharper screen (+570k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus TG-820 iHS

 SZ-12 TG-820 iHS 
LaunchedJanuary 2012February 2012Same age
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 has outer dimensions 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-820 iHS has sizing of 101mm x 65mm x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus TG-820 iHS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ-12 against the TG-820 iHS.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and TG-820 iHS is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes only by viewing a spec sheet. The image below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and TG-820 iHS.

Clearly, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can count on the Olympus SZ-12 to render greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-820 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
27
supports face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Olympus TG-820 iHS
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography features
Olympus TG-820 iHS Sports photography features
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
includes tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
34
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography features
Olympus TG-820 iHS Travel photography features
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse function
low battery power (220 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
59
environment proof
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery (220 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography information
Olympus TG-820 iHS Landscape photography information
40
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery power (220 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
38
really wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
lack of manual mode
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery (220 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Olympus TG-820 iHS
31
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone port
33
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Olympus TG-820 iHS
 Olympus SZ-12Olympus TG-820 iHS
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus SZ-12 Olympus TG-820 iHS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Announced 2012-01-10 2012-02-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic VI
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 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.9-5.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 1,030 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD HyperCrystal III TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 206g (0.45 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 101 x 65 x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images 220 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $350 $500