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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic F5

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic F5 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 F5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic F5 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic F5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the F5 (14MP) is very close and both cameras provide the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was announced 12 months earlier than the F5 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the SZ-12 matches up against the F5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic F5

 SZ-12 F5 
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic F5 over the Olympus SZ-12

 F5 SZ-12 
IntroducedJanuary 2013January 2012Fresher by 12 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic F5

 SZ-12 F5 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic F5 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 has physical 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 F5 has proportions of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic F5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ-12 vs the F5.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic F5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and F5 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic F5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic F5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizing only by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and F5.

As you can see, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size and the identical megapixels therefore you can expect comparable quality of photos but you really should take the age of the cameras into account. The older SZ-12 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic F5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic F5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic F5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic F5 Portrait photography highlights
33
decent MP (14 megapixels)
features face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
29
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography features
Panasonic F5 Street photography features
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
56
lighter than competition (121g)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic F5 as a Sports photography camera
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
33
decent MP (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography details
Panasonic F5 Travel photography details
65
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery life (220 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than competition (121 grams)
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic F5 Landscape photography advice
40
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
33
pretty wide (28mm)
decent MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Panasonic F5
31
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
lighter than others in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
28
pretty wide (28mm)
lighter than competition (121 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic F5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic F5
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-01-10 2013-01-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.2-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 5.70 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 121g (0.27 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 97 x 58 x 22mm (3.8" 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 shots 250 shots
Battery style 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
Card slots One One
Price at release $350 $100