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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS80

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
70
Overall
56

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS80 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
  • Introduced January 2012
Panasonic ZS80
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 327g - 112 x 69 x 42mm
  • Announced February 2018
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DC-TZ95
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS70
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS80 Overview

Following is a extended comparison of the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic ZS80, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and ZS80 (20MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was introduced 7 years prior to the ZS80 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick view of how the SZ-12 grades vs the ZS80 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic ZS80

 SZ-12 ZS80 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS80 over the Olympus SZ-12

 ZS80 SZ-12 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018January 2012More modern by 74 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS80

 SZ-12 ZS80 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS80 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 offers outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS80 has measurements of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") having a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic ZS80 in our newest Camera & 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 employing at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-12 versus the ZS80.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS80 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and ZS80 is 89 and 86 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS80 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor sizes simply by viewing specs. The image below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and ZS80.

All in all, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Panasonic ZS80 to result in extra detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS80 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS80 Portrait photography information
34
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
54
manual focus
decent MP (20 megapixels)
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS80 Street photography factors
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
75
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS80
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
61
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS80
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (220 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
79
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
decent MP (20MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS80
40
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery (220 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
62
manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS80 Vlogging details
31
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic jack
73
pretty wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS80
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
Alternative name - Lumix DC-TZ95
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-01-10 2018-02-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine
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 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,330 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Max silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 5.60 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 327g (0.72 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 112 x 69 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7")
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 photos 380 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Card slots One One
Launch cost $350 $448