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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic 3D1

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic 3D1 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
  • Launched January 2012
Panasonic 3D1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.9-5.7) lens
  • 193g - 108 x 58 x 24mm
  • Released November 2011
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic 3D1 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic 3D1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the 3D1 (12MP) is relatively close and they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was launched 3 months after the 3D1 and they are of a similar age. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SZ-12 matches up against the 3D1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic 3D1

 SZ-12 3D1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic 3D1 over the Olympus SZ-12

 3D1 SZ-12 
Screen sizing3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic 3D1

 SZ-12 3D1 
ReleasedJanuary 2012November 2011Same age
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic 3D1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 has got outer dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic 3D1 has proportions of 108mm x 58mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic 3D1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-12 against the 3D1.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic 3D1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and 3D1 is 89 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic 3D1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic 3D1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to see the gap in sensor sizes only by looking through specs. The pic underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and 3D1.

All in all, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Olympus SZ-12 to result in greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots far more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic 3D1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic 3D1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic 3D1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic 3D1 Portrait photography advice
34
decent megapixels (14MP)
features face detection focusing
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
27
offers face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography advice
Panasonic 3D1 Street photography advice
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with Panasonic 3D1
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
30
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography details
Panasonic 3D1 Travel photography details
65
lighter than average (226 grams)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery pack (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
59
supports focus via touch
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
no Timelapse recording
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography details
Panasonic 3D1 Landscape photography details
40
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery pack (220 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
36
really wide (25mm)
big screen (3.5 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
manual exposure not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery life (200 shots)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic 3D1 Vlogging highlights
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
lighter than average (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
34
really wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no microphone port
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic 3D1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic 3D1
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-01-10 2011-11-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.9-5.7
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3.5"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT Full Touch Screen with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 193 gr (0.43 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 108 x 58 x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 200 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $350 $670