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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GH5S

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S front
Portability
62
Imaging
50
Features
82
Overall
62

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GH5S 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
  • Released January 2012
Panasonic GH5S
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 660g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Announced January 2018
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GH5S Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic GH5S, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and GH5S (10MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and GH5S (Four Thirds) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-12 was unveiled 7 years earlier than the GH5S which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH5S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the SZ-12 matches up against the GH5S for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic GH5S

 SZ-12 GH5S 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5S over the Olympus SZ-12

 GH5S SZ-12 
AnnouncedJanuary 2018January 2012Newer by 73 months
Manually focus More exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1620k460kSharper display (+1160k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic GH5S

 SZ-12 GH5S 

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GH5S Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 provides external 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 Panasonic GH5S has specifications of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") having a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic GH5S in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ-12 versus the GH5S.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GH5S size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and GH5S is 89 and 62 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GH5S top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GH5S Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions only by going through technical specs. The pic below will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and GH5S.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-12 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Olympus SZ-12 will show more detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GH5S sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GH5S Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GH5S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic GH5S Portrait photography advice
33
resolution is good (14MP)
has face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
62
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GH5S as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
68
fully articulated screen
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers focus by touch
environment proofing
above average high ISO (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GH5S as a Sports photography camera
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
56
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/16,000s)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography info
Panasonic GH5S Travel photography info
65
lighter than others in class (226g)
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Timelapse function
bad battery (220 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
61
environment proofing
has bluetooth
offers focus by touch
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic GH5S Landscape photography factors
40
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
bad battery (220 shots)
no Timelapse function
63
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inch)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
two card slots
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging details
Panasonic GH5S Vlogging details
31
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
lighter than others in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support
68
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
includes mic socket
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GH5S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic GH5S
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Released 2012-01-10 2018-01-08
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine 10
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 3680 x 2760
Max native ISO 1600 51200
Max boosted ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 80 160
RAW files
Min boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 225
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Total lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,620 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,680 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.76x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/8000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash options 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1280x720 4096x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 660 grams (1.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4")
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 pictures 440 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B DMW-BLF19
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs w/3 images)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (UHS-II V60 cards supported)
Card slots One Two
Launch pricing $350 $2,498