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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G9

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 front
Portability
62
Imaging
61
Features
90
Overall
72

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G9 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
  • Revealed January 2012
Panasonic G9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 658g - 137 x 97 x 92mm
  • Revealed November 2017
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G9 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic G9, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and G9 (20MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and G9 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-12 was launched 6 years prior to the G9 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SZ-12 scores versus the G9 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic G9

 SZ-12 G9 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G9 over the Olympus SZ-12

 G9 SZ-12 
RevealedNovember 2017January 2012More recent by 70 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic G9

 SZ-12 G9 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G9 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 features physical measurements 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 Panasonic G9 has specifications of 137mm x 97mm x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") and a weight of 658 grams (1.45 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic G9 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-12 and the G9.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G9 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and G9 is 89 and 62 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G9 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements only by researching a spec sheet. The photograph here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and G9.

Clearly, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SZ-12 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Panasonic G9 will render more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older SZ-12 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G9 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography features
Panasonic G9 Portrait photography features
34
megapixel count decent (14MP)
comes with face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
76
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Panasonic G9
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
75
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
includes touch to focus
weather proofing
great ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography features
Panasonic G9 Sports photography features
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (20.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
low battery (400 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic G9 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than others in class (226g)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
70
weather proofing
has bluetooth
includes touch to focus
decent megapixels (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
low battery (400 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic G9 Landscape photography highlights
40
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
76
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have low pass filter
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
low battery (400 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging factors
Panasonic G9 Vlogging factors
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
77
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has microphone support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic G9
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DC-G9
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DC-G9
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-01-10 2017-11-08
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW format
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 225
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Total lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,680 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.83x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/8000s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
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 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 658g (1.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 137 x 97 x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6")
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 photos 400 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B DMW-BLF19
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported)
Card slots 1 Dual
Launch pricing $350 $1,500